The Hindu Analysis Sample PDF

New and Updated 18-24 FEBRUARY 2024
As per Latest UPSC Pattern
THE HINDU
NEWS
ANALYSIS
Only from UPSC Perspective
NATIONAL FrontPage, Social Issues, Polity and

PAGE Environment, Art and Culture, Security
ECONOMY Business, Economy and growth reform

PAGE Banking, SEBI, RBI Issues, Inflation
INTERNATIONAL Covers IR Page, International Org.

RELATIONS PAGE Bilateral relations, Imp reports, etc.
SCIENCE & TECH Covers Science & Tech issues, Bio-tech

PAGE Nano tech, Space related, ISRO, NASA
TABLE OF CONTENTS
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE .................................................................................................................................................... 3

Fresh advisory soon on Aadhaar as date of birth proof ............................................................................................. 3
What did the Parliamentary Committee recommend with respect to local fintech players ? ............................... 3
Rules that edge out women from employment for getting married are ‘coarse’, unconstitutional: Supreme
Court ................................................................................................................................................................................... 4
On financial devolution among States .......................................................................................................................... 4
SOCIAL SECTOR- ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTHCARE ........................................................................................................... 5
Nearly 50% of pregnancies in India are high-risk ......................................................................................................... 5
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE ........................................................................................................ 5
India seeks $26 bln of private nuclear power investments, sources say ................................................................. 5
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 6
Unlocking Lakshadweep archipelago’s potential as a logistics hub for India ......................................................... 6
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Govt raises authorised capital of FCI from Rs 10,000 cr to Rs 21,000 cr................................................................. 7
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Lab-grown diamonds put natural gems industry under huge pressure .................................................................... 7
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
‘DPIs to help add $1 trillion to India’s economy by 2030’ ........................................................................................... 7
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Illegal lending apps on FSDC radar ................................................................................................................................ 8
BILATERAL / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ........................................................................................................................... 8
EU launches Red Sea mission as U.S. ship attacked twice ........................................................................................ 8
SPACE, SCIENCE & TECH ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
www.mindmaps4ias.in 1
Mass Spectrometer.......................................................................................................................................................... 9
SPACE, SCIENCE & TECH ........................................................................................................................................................ 9
Saturn’s moon Mimas may have ocean under its crust.............................................................................................. 9
SPACE, SCIENCE & TECH ...................................................................................................................................................... 10
We have underestimated amount of tiny plastic particles in bottled water, study says ...................................... 10
SPACE, SCIENCE & TECH ...................................................................................................................................................... 10
100% FDI to be allowed in space sector: Centre ........................................................................................................ 10
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
Fresh advisory soon on Aadhaar as date of birth proof
Why this news is important?
• The UIDAI, asked all agencies that use Aadhaar to authenticate identities to delete it from the list of acceptable documents for
verifying a person’s date of birth.
Key takeaways from this article-
• The UIDAI in a circular in December 2023, had said an Aadhaar number can be used for establishing identity of an individual,
subject to authentication, and thereby, per se, it is not a proof of date of birth.
• Also Aadhaar cards and PDF versions of the identity document have started including a more explicit and prominent
disclaimer that they are “a proof of identity, not of citizenship or date of birth.
What is Aadhaar?
• Aadhaar is a 12 digit individual identification number which serves as proof of identity and proof of address for residents of
India.
• Any individual, irrespective of age and gender, who is a resident in India and satisfies the verification process laid down by the
UIDAI can enroll for Aadhaar.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)

• The UIDAI is a statutory authority established under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other
Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).

What did the Parliamentary Committee recommend with respect to local fintech players ?
• Recently, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology raised concerns about
the dominance of fintech apps owned by foreign entities in the Indian ecosystem and recommended that local players be
promoted.
About Fintech Players

• It is supported by an enabling policy and digital infrastructure framework, making India one of the largest digital markets in the
world.
• Market Overview: The Indian fintech market was valued at approximately INR 2.30 trillion in 2020 and is expected to reach INR
8.35 trillion by 2026, expanding at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of ~24.56% during the 2021 – 2026 period.
• As of 2020, India had over 676 million smartphone users, over 1.2 billion telecom subscribers (wireless + wireline), and 825
million internet subscribers.
How are Indian Fintechs different from International Players?

• High Adoption Rate:
o India’s fintech sector has seen a significant surge in recent years, with the country boasting the highest fintech
adoption rate globally at 87%, compared to the global average of 64%.
• Market Size and Growth:
o The Indian fintech industry’s market size was $50 billion in 2021 and is estimated to reach approximately $150 billion
by 2025.
o This rapid growth rate is much higher compared to many other countries.
• Diverse Fintech Ecosystem:
o India’s fintech startups have been at the forefront of digital innovation, particularly in the areas of payments, lending,
and wealth management.
o This diversity in the fintech ecosystem is a distinguishing feature of the Indian market.
• Global Real-Time Transactions:
o India accounted for 46% of all real-time transactions worldwide in 2022, indicating the country’s significant role in the
global fintech landscape.
• Untapped Market:
o Despite the growth, India still remains an untapped market due to lower penetration of financial services.
o According to a report, 14.6% of the Indian population remains unbanked compared with that of 6% in the US.

Rules that edge out women from employment for getting married are ‘coarse’, unconstitutional: Supreme Court

Recently, the Supreme Court made observations that rules forcing women employees to leave their jobs due to marriage or domestic
issues constitute clear gender discrimination and are unconstitutional.
What observations were made by the Supreme Court?

The observations were included in an order that affirmed the rights of a female officer in the Military Nursing Service who was
discharged for getting married.
• Incorrect and unlawful– The Supreme Court noted that her dismissal from service was both “incorrect and unlawful”, finding
that the regulation against marriage applied solely to female nursing officers. The court found the regulation to be clearly
arbitrary.
• Gender discrimination and inequality:
o a. The court stated in its order that ending employment due to a woman’s marriage is a clear example of gender
discrimination and inequality.
o b. Embracing such patriarchal norms undermines human dignity, the right to non-discrimination, and fair treatment.
o c. Laws and regulations founded on gender bias are unconstitutional.
• Terms and conditions already withdrawn– The court noted that the Army instruction regarding the terms and conditions for
granting permanent commissions in the Military Nursing Service was withdrawn in 1995. Hence, the discharge of the female
officer in the Military Nursing Service is unlawful.
Note– A Permanent Commission (PC) means continuing a career in the armed force until retirement.

On financial devolution among States

The article discusses the financial arrangement in India where taxes collected by the central government are shared with states. On
financial devolution among States
What is the basis for the allocation of funds between the Centre and states?
• Under Article 270 of the Indian Constitution, a scheme is established for distributing net tax proceeds, collected by the central
government, between the Centre and the States.
• The divisible pool, which includes taxes like corporation tax, income tax, GST, and the Centre’s share of IGST, is shared with
the states but excludes cess and surcharges.
• The Finance Commission, formed every five years, recommends how these funds are allocated. The 15th Finance
Commission has advised a 41% share from this pool for the states.
What are the basis for allocation includes?

• Income Distance: States with lower per capita incomes receive more to promote equity. The benchmark is the state with the
highest per capita income, which is Haryana.
• Population: The 2011 Census data is used for population considerations, moving away from the 1971 Census data used
earlier.
• Forest and Ecology: States with larger forest cover get a bigger share, recognizing their ecological contribution.
• Demographic Performance: States that have better controlled their population growth receive more funds.
• Tax Effort: States with higher tax collection efficiency are rewarded with a greater share.
What are the issues with the allocation of funds between the Centre and states?
• Exclusion of Cess and Surcharge: About 23% of the central government’s gross tax receipts come from cess and surcharge,
which are not part of the divisible pool. For instance, in the 2024-25 budget, the total tax revenue of the Union government is
₹38.8 lakh crore, but states only receive around 32%, less than the recommended 41%.
• Variation in Returns to States: There is a noticeable disparity in what states get back for every rupee contributed. For example,
industrially developed states receive less than a rupee for every rupee contributed, compared to states like Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar.
• Decreasing Share for Southern States: Over the last six Finance Commissions, the share in the divisible pool for southern
states has been reducing due to the criteria focusing more on equity and needs than on efficiency.
What should be done?

• Include Cess and Surcharge in Divisible Pool: Currently, cess and surcharge are not shared with states. Including them in the
divisible pool would increase the funds available for states.
• Reconsider Efficiency Criteria in Fund Allocation: Give more importance to the efficiency of tax collection by states in the
allocation process, which would encourage states to improve their tax collection systems.
• Enhanced State Participation in Finance Commission: Similar to the GST Council, states could have a more formal role in both
forming and working with the Finance Commission, leading to a more collaborative and transparent fiscal federalism.
SOCIAL SECTOR- ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTHCARE

Nearly 50% of pregnancies in India are high-risk
• A study that analysed the data of nearly 24,000 pregnant women in India has found the prevalence of high-risk pregnancies to
be high at 49.4%.
• Methodology:
o The study used the nationally representative cross-sectional household survey data of the National Family Health
Survey-5 (2019-2021).
o The researchers used the unit-level data from the Demographic Health Surveys (DHS) programme.
o The proportion of multiple high risks was higher among women with no educational category (22.5%) compared with
educated women.
• About 33% of pregnant women had a single high-risk factor, while 16% had multiple high-risk factors.
o High-risk factors: The study found that pregnant women from vulnerable populations such as poor women and those
who had no education had the possibility of having one or more risk factors for pregnancy.
▪ The leading high-risk factors were: short-birth spacing (the time interval between the last birth to the time of
current conception being less than 18 months), adverse birth outcomes such as miscarriage, abortion, or
stillbirth, and finally women whose most recent delivery was a caesarean section.
▪ The risk factors that were considered for the study were maternal risks, lifestyle risks, medical risks, current
health risks, and previous birth outcome risks.
• Statewise Data:
o Northeastern States of Meghalaya (67.8%), Manipur (66.7%) and Mizoram (62.5%) and the southern State of
Telangana (60.3%) had the highest prevalence of high-risk factors in India, while Sikkim (33.3%), Odisha (37.3%) and
Chhattisgarh (38.1%) had the lowest prevalence of high-risk pregnancies.
o Risk factor arising from adolescent pregnancies was highest in Tripura (10.3%), while advanced maternal age of over
35 years risk factor was most seen in Ladakh (14.3%), short stature (height below 140 cm) was highest in Puducherry
(4.8%), and BMI over 30 was seen in Goa (17.4%).
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION, CLIMATE CHANGE

India seeks $26 bln of private nuclear power investments, sources say
• India is planning to invite private companies to invest approximately $26 billion in its nuclear energy sector.
• The government plans to build 11,000 megawatts (MW) of new nuclear power generation capacity by 2040.
• Under the funding plan, the private companies will make the investments in the nuclear plants, acquire land, water and
undertake construction in areas outside the reactor complex of the plants.
• However, the rights to build and run the stations and their fuel management will rest with the Nuclear Power Corporation of
India (NPCIL).
• The plan will not require any amendment to India’s Atomic Energy Act of 1962 but will need a final go-ahead from the
Department of Atomic Energy.
• Though, Indian law bars private companies from setting up nuclear power plants but allows them to supply components,
equipment and sign construction contracts for work outside of the reactors.
What are the Benefits of Private Investment?

• Achieve the energy target: The proposed funding is crucial for India to achieve its target of having 50% of its installed electric
generation capacity sourced from non-fossil fuels by 2030, compared to the current 42%.
• Increased Efficiency: Private companies bring in more efficient management practices, technological advancements, and
innovation to the sector.
• Innovation and Research: Private investment incentivizes the development of advanced reactor designs, fuel cycles, safety
systems, and waste management solutions, leading to long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the sector.
• Financial Resources: Private investment provides additional financial resources for the development and expansion of nuclear
infrastructure.
ECONOMY NEWS
Unlocking Lakshadweep archipelago’s potential as a logistics hub for India
• The diplomatic crisis between India and Maldives has opened the world’s eyes to the maritime potential of the Lakshadweep
archipelago in the Arabian Sea.
Lakshadweep Archipelago
• Lakshadweep is an archipelago of 36 islands that are located some 400 km to the west of Kerala.
• It is a uni-district Union Territory and comprises 12 atolls, three reefs, five submerged banks and 10 inhabited islands.
• It is divided into three island subgroups:
o The Laccadive Islands in the middle with the Amindivi Islands in the north separated by the 11th parallel north and
o The atoll of Minicoy to the south separated to Laccadive Islands by the Nine Degree Channel.
• The islands have a total land area of just 32 sq km but confer a 400,000-sq kms Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
• The capital is Kavaratti.
What is its Strategic Importance?

• Lakshadweep has assumed strategic importance in recent years with the rise of China and its efforts to increase its presence
in the Indian Ocean Region.
• THe islands can serve as an Indian naval base in the Arabian Sea to safeguard EEZ, check smuggling & sea piracy, monitor
Sea Lines Of Communication (SLOC), counter China’s influence and help in joint training with friendly foreign countries like
QUAD.
Lakshadweep: A logistics hub

• Lakshadweep’s proximity to international shipping routes confers on it the potential to become a logistics hub.
o Amini, Kadamat, Bitra, Chetlat, Kiltan and Agatti islands are closer to Mangalore.
o Andorth, Kavaratti and Kalpeni islands are closer to Kozhikode, and
o Minicoy is closer to Kochi in Kerala.
• Coastal Karnataka is keen to tap the proximity and historical links between Lakshadweep and Mangaluru.
Tourism Potential
• Scenic Beauty: The islands boast pristine white sandy beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, and lush greenery, making them
a paradise for nature lovers and photographers.
• Marine Biodiversity: Lakshadweep is home to diverse marine life, including colorful coral reefs, making it an excellent
destination for snorkeling, scuba diving, and underwater photography.
• Cultural Heritage: The islands have a rich cultural heritage influenced by Arab, Portuguese, and Indian traditions.
• Relaxation and Wellness: The serene environment of Lakshadweep offers an ideal setting for relaxation and wellness retreats.
ECONOMY NEWS
Govt raises authorised capital of FCI from Rs 10,000 cr to Rs 21,000 cr
• The government has increased the authorised capital of state-run Food Corporation of India (FCI) from ₹10,000 crore to
₹21,000 crore to enhance the operational capabilities and fulfill its mandate effectively.
What are its Significance?

• As FCI resorts to cash credit, short-term loan, etc, to match the gap in the fund requirement, the increase in the authorised
capital will reduce the interest burden, decrease the economic cost and ultimately affect the government subsidy positively.
• With this infusion of capital, the FCI should also embark upon modernizing its storage facilities, improving transportation
networks, and adopting advanced technologies.
• These measures are essential not only for reducing post-harvest losses but also for ensuring efficient distribution of food
grains to consumers.
SOME BASICS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Food Corporation of India (FCI)
• Origin: Setup under the Food Corporations Act 1964.
• Parent body: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
• Primary Objective: To ensure food security for the nation by effectively managing the procurement, storage, and distribution of
essential commodities, thereby providing a reliable and sufficient food supply to meet the needs of the population.
• Mandate:To fulfill following objectives of the Food Policy:
o Effective price support operations for safeguarding the interests of the farmers,
o Distribution of foodgrains throughout the country for public distribution system and
o Maintaining satisfactory level of operational and buffer stocks of foodgrains to ensure national food security.
• Role: Since its inception, FCI has played a significant role in India’s success in transforming the crisis management-oriented
food security into a stable security system.
ECONOMY NEWS
Lab-grown diamonds put natural gems industry under huge pressure
• Lab-grown diamond exports from India tripled in value between 2019 and 2022.
Lab-grown diamonds
• LGDs are manufactured in laboratories, as opposed to naturally-occurring diamonds.
• But the chemical composition and other physical and optical properties of the two are the same.
• In Union Budget 2023-24, a five-year research grant for one of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) was announced to
encourage the indigenous production of lab-grown diamonds (LGD) machinery, seeds and recipe.
ECONOMY NEWS
‘DPIs to help add $1 trillion to India’s economy by 2030’
• Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) are likely to help propel India towards a $1 trillion digital economy by 2030, helping it to
become an $8 trillion economy, a Nasscom report said.
• By 2030, DPIs will significantly enhance citizens’ efficiency and promote social as well as financial inclusion.
• According to the report, mature DPIs such as Aadhaar, UPI, and FASTag which have witnessed exponential adoption by 2022
would in the next 7-8 years offer an opportunity for further scalability, reaching even the most remote population.
• Mature DPIs have generated a value of $31.8 billion, equivalent to 0.9% of India’s GDP.

Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs)
• Digital Public Infrastructures (DPIs) are digital platforms and systems that support the delivery of essential public services to
citizens and businesses.
• They act as foundational layers, enabling various digital solutions to be built upon them and also act as digital highways
facilitating seamless interactions between different stakeholders.
Present Status in India:

• India’s DPI ecosystem, known as India Stack, has made significant strides in recent years.
o India Stack is a set of open APIs and digital public goods that aim to unlock the economic primitives of identity, data,
and payments at population scale.
• Key DPIs include:
o Aadhaar: Unique digital identity for every resident.
o UPI: Real-time payment system enabling instant money transfers.
o eSign: Digital signature solution for online authentication.
o DigiLocker: Platform for storing and sharing digital documents.
o API (Application Programming Interface) Gateway: Standardized interface for accessing government data and
services.
ECONOMY NEWS
Illegal lending apps on FSDC radar
• Fresh measures to curb unauthorised online lending apps’ operations are going to be implemented, following deliberations on
the issue at the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC).
• The Council made a reiteration of the push for regulators to simplify and digitize the KYC (Know Your Customer) process
and adopt uniform KYC norms so that those KYC records can provide customers ‘inter-usability’ across the financial sector.
• The FSDC also discussed issues related to macro financial stability and the country’s preparedness to deal with any
challenges that may come up.
BILATERAL / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

EU launches Red Sea mission as U.S. ship attacked twice
• Recently, the European Union (EU) has launched a naval mission to protect Red Sea shipping from Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
• It comes in response to a series of attacks on commercial vessels, disrupting maritime traffic, hampering trade, and driving up
prices.
• It is named as Aspides (Greek for ‘shield’) aims to safeguard the vital shipping lane of the Red Sea.
• It aims to provide maritime situational awareness, accompany vessels, and protect them against possible multi-domain
attacks at sea.
• Unlike the U.S. and British forces, which have conducted retaliatory strikes on the Houthis, the EU mission will not partake in
any military strikes and will only operate at sea.
SPACE, SCIENCE & TECH

Mass Spectrometer
• The US has confirmed that Russia is developing a space-based weapon that is a ‘serious threat to national security’.
What are anti-satellite weapons?

• Anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons are designed to debilitate and/or destroy satellites that are already in orbit and operational.
• Most of these weapons are kinetic, i.e. they destroy satellites in orbit by rocketing into them or detonating an explosive near
them, and blowing them to pieces.
• Because of the low gravity and lack of an atmosphere, the resulting debris can stay in orbit for a long time depending on their
size.
• ASAT weapons violate the Outer Space Treaty (OST) through
o Article VII, which holds parties to the treaty liable for damaging satellites belonging to other parties
o Article IX, which asks parties to refrain from the “harmful contamination” of space.
Space weapons in the past

• The U.S. in 1962 in a high-altitude test called Starfish Prime detonated a thermonuclear bomb 400 km above ground. It
remains the largest nuclear test conducted in space.
o It set off an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and the charged particles and radiation emitted was accelerated by the
earth’s magnetic field, distorting the ionosphere and resulting in bright aurorae.
• The Soviet Union also conducted high-altitude nuclear tests during the same period, which is Test 184.
o The resulting EMP induced a very high current in 500 km of electric cables and eventually triggered a fire that burned
down a power plant.
Why has space emerged as the new battlefield?

• Military Significance of Space: Space has immense strategic importance due to its role in enabling communication, navigation,
reconnaissance, and surveillance capabilities for military operations.
• Competing Interests: As space becomes more accessible and economically valuable, there is a growing competition among
countries for space resources, such as valuable minerals and water on celestial bodies.
• National Security Concerns: Countries perceive safeguarding their space assets as critical to their national security interests.
As a result, they invest in deploying capabilities to protect their assets and degrade those of potential adversaries, leading to
militarization of the space.
• Technological Advances: Advances in technology have led to the proliferation of capabilities that could be used for offensive
purposes in space, such as anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons, cyber warfare tools targeting space systems, and directed energy
weapons.

Saturn’s moon Mimas may have ocean under its crust
• Astronomers believe Mimas may have a liquid ocean around 20-30 km under its heavily cratered ice shell.
About Mimas
• Mimas was discovered in 1789 by English astronomer William Herschel.
• It is less than 123 miles (198 kilometers) in mean radius.
• The crater-covered Mimas is the smallest and innermost of Saturn’s major moons.
• Its low density suggests that it consists almost entirely of water ice, which is the only substance ever detected on Mimas.
• It takes only 22 hours and 36 minutes to complete an orbit.
• Its most distinguishing feature is a giant impact crater – named Herschel
• Mimas appears to be frozen solid is puzzling because Mimas is closer to Saturn.

We have underestimated amount of tiny plastic particles in bottled water, study says
• A study has found that a litre of bottled water can contain more than one lakh particles of micro and nano plastics.
About the Findings:

• The Scientists used a custom Hyperspectral Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) imaging platform to capture multiple
images of an object’s molecules at different wavelengths.
• Findings:
o The investigation revealed the presence of around 2.4 lakh micro and nano plastic particles per litre of bottled water.
o It found an average of over a quarter of a million plastic particles per litre of bottled water, 90% of which were
nanoplastics.
Microplastics Nanoplastics
• These are tiny fragments of plastic that are less than 5
millimetres in diameter. They originate from various • These are even smaller, with dimensions ranging from
sources, including cosmetics, city dust, road 1 nanometer to 1 micrometre.
markings, and engineered plastic pellets. • They are believed to be more toxic than larger
• However, the majority of the primary microplastics in microplastics as they can more easily enter the human
the world’s oceans come from the laundry of textiles body.
(35%) and the abrasion of tires while driving (28%).

100% FDI to be allowed in space sector: Centre
Recently, the Union Cabinet has approved 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the space sector, under the revised FDI policy.
What new changes have been made in foreign direct investment (FDI) norms?
Under the updated FDI policy, the satellite sub-sector has been divided into three different types, with defined limits for foreign
investment in each type.
• Production of parts, systems, or sub-components for satellites- Under the Automatic route, FDI of up to 100% will be
permitted for the manufacturing of components, systems, or sub-systems for satellites, ground segments, and user segments.
• Satellite production and management– The updated policy allows up to 74% FDI under the automatic route for satellite
manufacturing and operation, satellite data products, and ground/user segment. For investments beyond 74%, government
approval is required.
• Launch vehicles and their components– Up to 49% FDI under the automatic route will be allowed for launch vehicles, their
systems or subsystems, and the establishment of spaceports for spacecraft launch and reception. Investments beyond 49% will
require government approval.
What is the significance of this initiative?

• The revised policy aims to attract investors to invest in Indian space companies.
• This increased private sector involvement will create jobs, facilitate the adoption of modern technology, and promote self-
sufficiency in the sector.
• The revised policy is expected to link Indian firms with global supply chains, allowing them to set up manufacturing plants
locally
New and Updated 14-20 JANUARY 2024
THE HINDU
NEWS
ANALYSIS




TABLE OF CONTENTS
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE ................................................................................................................................................... 2

Sub-categorisation of SCs | Panel to look into even distribution of benefits .......................................................... 2
SOCIAL SECTOR- ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTHCARE ......................................................................................................... 2
Global surgery: why access to essential surgery is important .................................................................................. 2
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Prepare Coastal Zone Management Plans without delay, NGT tells coastal States and Union Territories ........ 3
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
AI will impact 40% of jobs globally, says IMF chief ..................................................................................................... 4
BILATERAL / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS .......................................................................................................................... 5
Why has South Africa dragged Israel to the ICJ? ........................................................................................................ 5
India, Saudi Arabia discuss naval cooperation, defence production opportunities ................................................ 5
India, China tensions continued through 2021 and 2022, new details reveal ......................................................... 6
India, China tensions continued through 2021 and 2022, new details reveal ......................................................... 7
SPACE, SCIENCE & TECH ....................................................................................................................................................... 8
Quantum gates: Devices that translate quantum effects to computing awesomeness ....................................... 8
Medical care on India’s trains is running late, with passengers at risk .................................................................... 9
What are light-emitting diodes and why are they prized as light sources? .............................................................. 9
Sub-categorisation of SCs | Panel to look into even distribution of benefits
• The Union government has formed a committee to ensure equitable distribution of benefits to Scheduled Castes (SCs) across
the country.
• The sub-categorisation of SCs comes after the Prime Minister’s promise to look into the demand raised by the Madiga
community of Telangana.
Sub-Categorisation within Scheduled Castes
• It is to identify and help the most backward among the SCs.

• In the last two decades, multiple states like Punjab, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu have tried to bring in reservation laws at the state
level to sub-categorise SCs.
• In the last two decades, States like Punjab, Bihar, and Tamil Nadu have tried to bring in reservation laws at the State level in a
bid to sub-categorise Scheduled Castes.
Arguments favouring sub-categorisation within Scheduled Arguments against sub-categorisation within Scheduled Castes
Castes
• Graded Inequalities: The principal argument for sub-
categorisation of SCs has been the graded inequalities
among SC communities.
o The thrust of it has been that even among the
marginalised, there are communities that have
lesser access to basic facilities. • These are primarily based on the legal and practical
• Unequal Representation: Some communities are more challenges associated with it.
backward and have less representation than others. • Legal Challenges: The Supreme Court held that the State
o For instance, the Madiga community has claimed did not have the power to unilaterally sub-categorise
that the benefits, including that of reservation, communities in the list of SCs or Scheduled Tribes (STs).
meant for the SC category had been cornered by o The Constitution has provided that these lists can
the Mala community, with the Madigas being left only be made by Parliament and notified by the
out. President.
• Legal Standpoint: A five-judge Bench headed by Justice • Data of socio-economic status: The population data related
Arun Mishra has affirmed the competence of the States to to SC, ST, and OBC categories are not updated since the
give preferential treatment to the weakest among the 2011 census.
Scheduled Castes without depriving other castes of any o It hampers the objective and scientific basis for
benefit. sub-categorisation.
o The Court has noted that the Scheduled Castes list • Untouchability: The social and educational backwardness
contains many castes and cannot be treated as a cannot be applied to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
homogeneous group. Tribes. The special treatment is given to the SCs due to
• Equitable Distribution of Benefits: The Union government untouchability with which they have suffered since ages.
has formed a committee of Secretaries to evaluate and
work out a method for the equitable distribution of benefits,
schemes, and initiatives to the most backward communities
amongst the over 1,200 Scheduled Castes across the
country.

Global surgery: why access to essential surgery is important
• Global surgery is the neglected component in global health, especially in South Asia.
What is global surgery?
• Global surgery refers to the provision of surgical care on a global scale, with a focus on addressing the disparities in access to
surgical services and improving surgical outcomes worldwide.
• These “surgeries” include essential and emergency surgeries such as surgery, obstetrics, trauma, and anaesthesia (SOTA).
• While it predominantly focuses on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), it also prioritizes access disparities and under-
served populations in high-income countries (HICs).
Global Scenario
• According to the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery (LCoGS) five billion people or over 70% of the global population lack
timely access to safe and affordable surgical care when needed.
o Of the five billion people, over 1.6 billion people lacking access live in South Asia.
• Most severely, 99% and 96% of the people in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) respectively, face access gaps
compared to 24% in high-income countries (HICs).
What are the Concerns?

• In 2010, around 17 million deaths were attributed to surgically treatable conditions, surpassing the combined mortality burden
of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
• The disease burden also leads to an economic burden. The cumulative projected loss to GDP due to the absence of scale-up
of surgical care is estimated to be $20.7 trillion across 128 countries by 2030.
Steps taken for Global Surgery

• In India the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana has provided millions of surgeries at zero or negligible cost to the bottom 40%
of Indians.
• In South Asia, Pakistan has formulated a National Surgical Care Vision and Nepal has initiated a national surgical, obstetrics,
and anaesthesia plan (NSOAP).
What needs to be done?

• Research and innovation, policy focus, and sustained financing are key to solving global surgery challenges.
• Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and non-profit groups can play a significant role in promoting
global surgery initiatives.
ENVIRONMENT & CONSERVATION

Prepare Coastal Zone Management Plans without delay, NGT tells coastal States and Union Territories
• The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked to prepare the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) or Island Coastal
Regulation Zone Plan (ICRZP) as per Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019.
Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP)

• Coastal zone management plans (CZMP) are designed to promote sustainable development within coastal zone
environments.
• Till now the CZMP has been approved for Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra and ICRZP has been approved for Great
Nicobar Island and Little Andaman Island as per CRZ Notification, 2019.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, 2019

• The notification implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) classifies the coastal
area into different zones to manage infrastructure activities and regulate them.
• It incorporates recommendations of the Shailesh Nayak committee which looked into the concerns relating to the CRZ, 2011
notification.
Provisions of the CRZ notification 2019

• CRZ limits: The CRZ limits on land along “tidal influenced water bodies” has been reduced from 100 meters to 50 meters or
the width of the creek, whichever is less.
• No Development Zones (NDZ): The notification provides for NDZ along various categories of coastal areas to protect India’s
coastline from encroachment and erosion.
• Mapping of high tide and hazard lines: National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) is the final authority to
lay down standards for High Tide Line (HTL).
• Bifurcation of CRZ-III areas: CRZ-III areas have been divided into two categories:
o CRZ-III A: It refers to rural areas with a population density of 2,161 people per square kilometer or more as per the
2011 Census. Such areas shall have a “No Development Zone” (NDZ) of 50m from the HTL.
o CRZ-III B: It refers to rural areas with a population density lesser than 2,161 people per square kilometer. Such areas
shall continue to have an NDZ of 200m from the HTL.
• Projects that require MoEFcc’s approval: Only those projects located in CRZ-I (environmentally most critical) and CRZ-IV
(water and seabed areas) shall require MoEF clearance. All other projects shall be considered by Coastal Zone Management
Authorities (CZMAs) in the states and union territories.
ECONOMY NEWS
AI will impact 40% of jobs globally, says IMF chief
• AI will affect 40% of jobs and probably worsen inequality, according to the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
• About 60% of jobs in advanced economies such as the US and UK are exposed to AI and half of these jobs may be negatively
affected.
• AI’s ability to affect highly skilled jobs means that advanced economies face greater risks from the technology.
• The technology will also help to enhance some humans’ productivity as AI improves their performance.
• The safest highly exposed jobs are those with a “high complementarity” to AI, meaning the technology will assist their work
rather than displace it entirely.
o This includes roles with a high degree of responsibility and interacting with people – such as surgeons, lawyers and
judges.
• High-exposure jobs with “low complementarity” – meaning the potential for being displaced by AI.
o This includes telemarketing, or cold-calling people to offer goods or services.
o AI applications may execute key tasks currently performed by humans, which could lower labour demand, leading to
lower wages and reduced hiring.
• Low-exposure occupations include dish washers and performers.
• AI jobs exposure is 40% in emerging market economies – defined by the IMF as states including China, Brazil and India –
and 26% for low-income countries, with an overall total of just under 40%, according to the IMF.
• In most scenarios AI would probably worsen overall inequality across the global economy and could stoke social tensions
without political intervention.
o The IMF analysis shows that higher-wage earners whose jobs have high complementarity with AI can expect an
increase in their income, leading to an increase in inequality.

• Investing in education and training: Equipping workers with the skills needed for the AI-driven economy is crucial.
• Social safety nets: It is crucial for countries to establish comprehensive social safety nets like unemployment benefits and
offer retraining programmes for vulnerable workers.
o In doing so, we can make the AI transition more inclusive, protecting livelihoods and curbing inequality.
• Regulation and ethical considerations: Implementing responsible AI development and ensuring fair distribution of the benefits
of AI are important considerations.
• AI property rights: Countries’ choices regarding the definition of AI property rights, as well as redistributive and other fiscal
policies, will ultimately shape its impact on income and wealth distribution.
• Mid-career transitions: AI could help with mid-career transitions as this is the age where expertise is at fingertips. So anyone
can become an expert as an AI assistant is there to help.
Why has South Africa dragged Israel to the ICJ?

South Africa has moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ), invoking the Genocide Convention, 1948, against Israel, accusing it of
committing genocide during its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
• South Africa had moved the ICJ, invoking the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, 1948,
against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide during its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
o Both South Africa and Israel are signatories to the Genocide Convention of 1948.
• Earlier Instances : In 2019, the Gambia had approached the ICJ against Myanmar for its alleged genocide against the
Rohingya community.
Stand of South Africa Israel’s counter the arguments

• South Africa drew heavily upon statements and remarks
attributed to Israeli officials and military leaders, to contend
that one could infer genocidal intent from their words and
deeds.
o It argued that the current operations should be
seen in the context of the ‘Nakba’ of 1948, 75 years
of ‘apartheid’, 56 years of occupation and 16 years
of siege. • Israel rejected any genocidal intent behind its ongoing
▪ Nakba, which means ‘catastrophe’ in campaign and argued that its response was legitimate and
Arabic, refers to the mass displacement based on the norms of international law.
of Palestinians during the Arab-Israeli
• It anchored its presentation on its right to self-defence.
war.
o South Africa highlighted the Israeli Prime Minister’s • It claimed that its operations in Gaza were not aimed at
theory of ‘Amalek’ to justify the killing of Gaza destroying its people, but to protect them and that it
residents was directed solely against Hamas and its allied groups and
▪ Amalek, according to the Hebrew Bible, were aimed at removing Hamas’ capacity to threaten Israel.
was a persecutor of the Israelites and it is • It rejected the charge that any remarks attributed to its
the duty of Israelites to eliminate Prime Minister or Defence Minister indicated any genocidal
Amalekites. intent.
• It has also accused Israel of causing hunger, dehydration, • Israel also put the blame on casualties on Hamas, claiming
and starvation in Gaza by impeding sufficient humanitarian that its use of civilians as human shields was aimed at
assistance, cutting off water, food, fuel, and electricity, and maximising harm to civilians.
failing to provide shelter or sanitation to Palestinians in
Gaza
• South Africa has sought a series of measures including
the immediate suspension of Israel’s military operations in
Gaza and to desist from the commission of any act within
the scope of the Convention against the Palestinian
people.

India, Saudi Arabia discuss naval cooperation, defence production opportunities
• India and Saudi Arabia have decided to set up a Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation to give a boost to the defence ties.

Establishment of diplomatic relations in 1947, and it was strengthened by the signing of Delhi Declaration in 2006 and elevated to a
strategic partnership by signing of Riyadh Declaration in 2010.
• The Prime Minister of India’s visit to Riyadh in 2016 captured the spirit of enhanced cooperation in the political, economic,
security, and defence realms.
• King Salman conferred the King Abdulaziz Sash (the Kingdom’s highest civilian honour) to India’s Prime Minister, indicating
the importance of Saudi Arabia-India relations.
Key highlights
• India’s relations with Saudi Arabia have witnessed unprecedented growth in recent years, marked by a remarkable rise in trade
and other investments.
• Trade: India’s foreign trade with Saudi Arabia reached an all-time high of $52.75 billion in FY23.
o India received $3.22 billion in FDI from Saudi Arabia between April 2000 and June 2023.
o India sources crude petroleum, petroleum products, fertilisers, raw plastic, organic and inorganic chemicals from
Saudi Arabia.
• Energy Security: Saudi Arabia contributes to India’s energy security as India is highly dependent on imports for its energy
needs, importing 87% of oil consumed, and the Middle East accounts for over 60% of India’s crude oil imports.
• Food Security: India complements Saudi countries in their food security as Saudi Arabia is largely import-dependent for its
food needs and manufactured goods, including textiles.
• Strategic Partnership Council (SPC): India is the fourth country after the UK, France, and China to partner with Saudi Arabia to
establish the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in 2019.
o This aims to take forward mutual collaborations on the economy, investments, as well as social, political, and
security matters.
• Defence Cooperation: India and Saudi Arabia have a Joint Committee on Defence Cooperation (JCDC) that meets regularly.
o Indian Navy cooperates with Royal Saudi Naval Force through various initiatives, which include operational
interactions such as bilateral naval exercise Al Mohed Al Hindi, training and other maritime avenues.
o Indian Navy ships have been regularly undertaking port calls at various ports of Saudi Arabia.
o Various Exercise: The Indian Navy has also been interacting with the Royal Saudi Naval Force in various multilateral
fora – Ex Milan, Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, Combined Maritime Forces and Djibouti Code of Conduct – Jeddah
Amendment (DCoC-JA).
• Regional Stability: Both countries agreed to work together for peace, security and stability of the region, as Iranian-
backed Houthi militants in Yemen stepped up attacks on vessels and disrupted maritime traffic in the Red Sea.
• Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS): The navies of the two countries could explore practical cooperation in the fight
against piracy and an active role of the Royal Saudi Navy in the IONS.

India, China tensions continued through 2021 and 2022, new details reveal
• At least two previously unknown incidents of conflict between the Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) have come to light.
• After the beginning of the stand-off in eastern Ladakh in 2020, India and China had deployed thousands of troops in forward
posts along the LAC in the area which largely continue to remain deployed with the disengagement and de-escalation still
incomplete.
• Tensions between India and China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) continued through 2021 and till end 2022.
Why did China Encroach on Indian Territory?

• To show its dominance:
o China felt that somehow India was not recognising the growing gap in their relative economic status, when China
perceived that India was seeking to get closer to the United States (US) to balance China it decided that it needed to
demonstrate its power.
o From the Chinese point of view, the basis of this “stability” does not come from settling its border issues with
India, but dominance on the border and deterring Indian challenges.
• India’s stand on China’s Aggressive Foreign Policy:
o India sought to challenge the Chinese point of view in many ways.
o By building up its border infrastructure to more effectively maintain a deterrence capacity against the PLA along its
borders.
o By developing a relationship with the US which appeared to merge the threats from China’s primary and secondary
strategic directions.
o By promoting its ties with exiled Tibetans and maintaining its relationship with the Dalai Lama.
o Challenging China’s efforts to develop ties in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region.
o Leading the global critique of China’s Belt & Road Initiative.
• Threat to Chinese efforts in the South-Asian region:
o China needs to be accepted in its periphery as the foremost economic and military power, before it is taken seriously
as a global power.
o In its southwest is India, equally huge and populous and with aspirations of its own, and its neighbors most certainly
see India as being the naturally pre-eminent power in South Asia.
• India’s engagement with Chinese Adversaries:
o In recent years, India has developed strong military ties with the country which China believes is its primary threat,
the United States.
o China would like to focus on the western Pacific challenge and retain stable ties with India in South Asia.
o India’s constant efforts, however, to upgrade its border infrastructure and strengthen its partnership with the US
destabilise China’s calculations.

India, China tensions continued through 2021 and 2022, new details reveal
• The newly elected President of Taiwan is being perceived as a major blow to China.
• The island became a Japanese colony in 1895, after the Qing empire lost the first Sino-Japanese war.
• Then in 1945, after Japan lost World War II, China took the island.
• After Mao Zedong’s Communist Party won in 1949, Chinese republicans of the Kuomintang government fled to Taiwan, where
they ruled for several decades, and it has since continued as the Republic of China (ROC).
What is Current Scenario?

• China sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that will eventually be under Beijing’s control.
• However, Taiwan sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected
leaders.
What are the Issues between China and Taiwan?

• Sovereignty: China considers Taiwan as a renegade province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland.
o However, Taiwan has its own government, military, and economy and considers itself a sovereign state.
• Political Differences: Taiwan is a democratic country, while China is a one-party communist state.
o The differences in political ideology have contributed to tensions between the two countries.
• Military Threats: China has not ruled out the use of force to reunify with Taiwan and has conducted military exercises near the
Taiwan Strait in the past, which have increased tensions between the two sides.
• Economic Competition: Both China and Taiwan are economic powerhouses, and there is significant competition between the
two in terms of trade and investment.
• Diplomatic Recognition: China has been using its diplomatic clout to isolate Taiwan by convincing other countries to cut ties
with Taiwan and recognize China instead.
• Taiwan’s International Status: Taiwan is not recognized as a sovereign state by the United Nations and is unable to join
international organisations.
• Cross-Strait Relations: There are also a number of other issues that affect cross-strait relations, including Taiwan’s
relationship with the United States, Taiwan’s national identity, and the possibility of a peaceful reunification.
India on One China Policy
• China on the LAC: With India facing its own problems with China on the LAC, there have been suggestions that it should
review its One China Policy.
• India’s Bilateral relations with China and Taiwan: India maintains its bilateral relations with China including Vietnam, and
separately with Taiwan.
o India maintains ‘trade and cultural exchange’ offices in each other’s capitals.
• New Southbound Policy (NSP): It expands the scope of countries covered in the Go South Policy.
o Through the policy, Taiwan has extended engagement with Australia, New Zealand, India, and its five South Asian
neighbours.

Quantum gates: Devices that translate quantum effects to computing awesomeness

Quantum computing has gained a significant interest in the past decade for its applications in various fields.
What is Computing?
• A bit (binary digit) is the smallest piece of information storage in computing. Often, a large number of bits is required to
convey meaningful information.
• In a computer, a bit is a physical system with two easily discernible configurations, or states – e.g. high and low voltage.
o These physical bits are useful to represent and process expressions that involve 0s and 1s: for instance, low voltage
can represent 0 and high voltage can represent 1.
• A gate is a circuit that changes the states of bits in a predictable way. The speed at which these gates work determines how
fast a computer functions.
What is Quantum computing?

• Quantum computing is a revolutionary computing paradigm utilizing the principles of quantum mechanics to perform
calculations.
• Unlike classical computers that rely on bits (0 or 1), quantum computers harness qubits, which can exist in a state of
superposition (both 0 and 1 simultaneously).
o For example, to perform one calculation that requires 16 different inputs, a classical computer requires a total of four
bits and sixteen computations.
o But with four qubits in superposition, a quantum computer could generate answers corresponding to all 16 inputs in
a single computation.
• This unique property allows them to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than classical computers, opening
doors to groundbreaking advancements in various fields.
What are the Challenges?

• Hardware limitations: Qubits are fragile and prone to errors, making it difficult to build large, stable quantum computers.
• Software development: Quantum algorithms are fundamentally different from classical algorithms, requiring specialized
programming languages and techniques.
• Cost and accessibility: Current quantum computers are expensive and often not accessible to the general public or even
smaller research institutions.
• Security concerns: The power of quantum computers poses potential threats to existing encryption methods, necessitating
development of quantum-resistant cryptography.

• Investing in research and development: Governments and private companies are pouring resources into advancing quantum
hardware and software technologies.
• Developing error correction techniques: Robust methods for mitigating qubit errors are crucial for building reliable quantum
computers.
• Building quantum ecosystems: Creating platforms and tools to make quantum computing more accessible and user-friendly
for developers and researchers.
• Addressing security concerns: Collaborating on international standards and protocols for quantum-resistant cryptography to
ensure secure communication in the future.

Medical care on India’s trains is running late, with passengers at risk
• The Balasore train accident in 2023 raised important concerns about rail safety, but it was largely about accident-related
safety.
Provision of Emergency Care

• In 1995, a ‘Special first aid box’ was provided in long-distance superfast trains, Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains.
• In 1996, as part of a pilot project, Railways stationed a medical team in two long-distance trains. This team consisted of
a medical officer, a male nurse, and an attendant.
• The Railways subsequently discontinued the service – but to make healthcare accessible, it decided to give doctors travelling
on trains a 10% discount if they were willing to provide medical services en route.
• In 2017, the Supreme Court directed the Railways to set up a committee consisting of experts from the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to recommend further measures.
• Based on the committee’s recommendations, the Railways decided to modify the contents of the first aid boxes and provide
them at all railway stations and in all passenger-carrying trains.
o It also mandated first-aid training for railway staff at the time of joining and once every three years.
• In 2021, the Railways launched an integrated helpline number – 139 – for all queries concerning the railways, including
medical assistance.

• Railways should ensure the updated 88-item first-aid list is in place in all trains and that passengers are aware of these
services.
• Periodic inspections are necessary to maintain the quality of care as well.
• Finally, the Railways needs to install a system to capture data on the healthcare needs of people travelling on trains and use
that to inform policy.

What are light-emitting diodes and why are they prized as light sources?
• Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) succeed the incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps of previous centuries as the world’s light-
source of choice.
Light-emitting diodes (LED)

• A diode is an electronic component which has two points of contact, or terminals, called anode and cathode. A diode’s primary
purpose is to allow current to flow in only one direction.
• A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it.
• LEDs have applications in industries, consumer electronics, and household appliances: from smartphones to TV screens, from
signboards to ‘feeding’ plants light in greenhouses, from barcode scanners to monitoring air quality.
New and Updated 01-09
DECEMBER 2023
PART -02
THE HINDU
NEWS
ANALYSIS




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Anger builds among Hattees as Centre, Himachal Pradesh govt. undecided on who to include in the
community......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
How did benefits for migrants impact Assam, asks SC ............................................................................................. 2
114 seats, migrant quota cleared for J&K Assembly .................................................................................................. 2
The role of special inquiry committees of Parliament ................................................................................................ 3
SC makes video on Kesavananda Bharati judgment available .................................................................................. 4
IPC issues alert for painkiller mefenamic acid ............................................................................................................ 4
SOCIAL SECTOR- ISSUES RELATED TO EDUCATION ............................................................................................................ 5
Increase threshold income for EWS admissions in schools to ₹5 lakh: HC ............................................................ 5
CYBER SECURITY ................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Cybercrime cases nearly double in Delhi; fraudsters using novel ways, say police ............................................... 5
Warmest decade in history also saw drop in deaths from ‘extreme climate events’: World Meteorological
Organisation ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Char Dham Project and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) ........................................................................... 7
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Tamil Nadu lags in giving broadband connections under BharatNet infra .............................................................. 8
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 9
Textile industry crisis looms large as demand hits a low........................................................................................... 9
SPACE, SCIENCE & TECH ..................................................................................................................................................... 10
The transformative benefits of population-level genome sequencing ................................................................... 10
Anger builds among Hattees as Centre, Himachal Pradesh govt. undecided on who to include in the community
• Members of the Hattee community, which was declared a Scheduled Tribe, are seeking that the ST certificates be issued to
them immediately.
About the Hattis

• The Hattis are a community who got their name from their tradition of selling homegrown vegetables, crops, meat and wool
etc. at small markets called ‘haat’ in towns.
• The Hatti community is cut off from Sirmaur of Himachal by Giri river and Tons river divides it from the Jaunsar Bawar area of
Uttarakhand.
• The Hattis are governed by a traditional council called Khumbli, which like the khaps of Haryana, decide community matters.

How did benefits for migrants impact Assam, asks SC
• Recently, the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court(SC) examined the validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• Section 6A was inserted into the Citizenship Act, 1955 as part of the Assam Accord which was signed in 1985.
• The Assam Accord signed by the All Assam Students Union, Assam government and the Government of India on August 15,
1985 to detect and deport the foreigners, Section 6A was inserted to the Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to people who
have migrated to Assam.
• Through this rights and obligations of Indian citizens were granted to foreigners who entered Assam before January 1, 1966,
and were “ordinarily resident” in the state.
• Petition in SC: Petitioners argued that the Section 6A potentially affected the political and economic rights of the local
population of Assam.

114 seats, migrant quota cleared for J&K Assembly

Lok Sabha has passed Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation
(Amendment) Bill, 2023.
What is Jammu & Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill,2023?

• Aim: To amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2004.
• Note: The J&K Reservation Act, 2004 provided reservation in jobs and admission in professional institutions to Scheduled
Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other socially and educationally backward classes.
Key Provisions of the Bill:

• The Bill seeks to replace the term “weak and underprivileged classes (social castes)“ in the J&K Reservation Act, 2004 to
“other backward classes” as declared by the Union Territory.
What is Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill,2023?

• Aim: To amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
• Note: The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 provides for the reorganization of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into the union
territories of Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).
Key Provisions of the Bill:
• Increases the total number of seats in the J&K Assembly from 107 to 114. This is based on the report of the Delimitation
Commission.
• Seeks to provide reservation of 9 seats for Scheduled Tribes for the first time.
• Empowers the Lieutenant-Governor to nominate 3 members in the Assembly:
o Two members from the Kashmiri migrant community including one woman and
o Third member should be a representative of people from PoK who took refuge in India following the wars with
Pakistan in 1947, 1965 and 1971.

The role of special inquiry committees of Parliament
• The ethics committee of the Lok Sabha have recommended the expulsion of Minister of Parliament Mahua Moitra for her
“unethical conduct” and “breach of privileges”.
Types of Parliament committees

• Standing Committees: These are permanent (constituted every year or periodically) and work on a continuous basis.
• Ad Hoc Committees: These are temporary and cease to exist on completion of the task assigned to them.
Committees to Inquire
• It is a type of Standing Committee which consist of ;
o Committee on Petitions
o Committee of Privileges
o Ethics Committee
Ethics committee
• It is a standing Committee with a term period of one year which enforces the code of conduct of members of Parliament.
• The Committee examines complaints filed against members of the House by other members; outsiders through a member; or
referred by the Speaker.
• Appointment and Composition: The Ethics Committee consists of members appointed by the Speaker, serving a term of one
year. It comprises 15 members.
• The term ‘unethical’ is not defined and is left to the Committee to decide whether any act is unethical or not.
History of Ethics Committees

• A Presiding Officers’ Conference held in 1996 first mooted the idea of ethics panels for the two Houses.
• Rajya Sabha: Then Vice President K R Narayanan constituted the Ethics Committee of the Upper House in 1997, and it was
inaugurated that year.The Rules applicable to the Committee of Privileges also apply to the ethics panel.
• Lok Sabha: The Committee of Privileges recommended the constitution of an Ethics Committee during the 13th Lok Sabha.
The then Speaker, G M C Balayogi, constituted an ad hoc Ethics Committee in 2000, which became a permanent part of the
House in 2015.
Privileges Committee
• The Committee examines the cases of breach of privileges of the House and its members and recommends appropriate
action.
• The functions of this committee are semi-judicial in nature.
• The mandate of the Privileges Committee is to safeguard the “freedom, authority, and dignity of Parliament”. These privileges
are enjoyed by individual Members as well as the House as a whole.
SC makes video on Kesavananda Bharati judgment available
• A five-minute video produced by the Supreme Court in 10 Indian languages gives a concise history of the Kesavananda Bharati
judgment.
• The Kesavananda Bharati judgment, delivered on 24 April 1973, was a verdict in a case filed by Sri Kesavananda Bharati.
• He challenged the constitutional validity of the 24th, 25th and 29th Amendments to the Indian Constitution, which sought to
curtail the powers of the judiciary and the fundamental rights of citizens.
• The case was heard by a bench of 13 judges of the Supreme Court of India, making it the largest benches in Indian legal
history to date.
• The bench was set up to hear the case as it involved important constitutional questions regarding the powers of the
Parliament to amend the Constitution.
About the Judgement

• The Supreme Court, in a historic 7:6 majority decision, propounded the basic structure doctrine of the Constitution.
o It holds that certain fundamental features of the Constitution, such as democracy, secularism, federalism, and the
rule of law, cannot be amended by parliament.
• The court also held that the power of judicial review is an integral part of the basic structure of the Constitution, and cannot
be taken away by Parliament through constitutional amendments.
Significance of the Judgement

• The significance of the case lies in the fact that the verdict has stood sentinel to the basic features of the Constitution such
as secularism, religious freedom and federalism for 50 long years.
• This doctrine has served as a check on the power of the Parliament to amend the Constitution.
• It has ensured that the Constitution remains a living document that is responsive to changing times while preserving its
fundamental values and principles.
• Proponents of the basic structure doctrine consider it to be a safety valve against majoritarian authoritarianism.
o It is plausible that the 1975 Emergency could have had far more deleterious effects on the health of Indian
democracy if the basic structure doctrine was not there.

Basic structure of the constitution consists of following principles
– Supremacy of the Constitution
– Republican and Democratic forms of Government
– Secular character of the Constitution
– Separation of powers between the Legislature, the executive and the judiciary
– Federal character of the Constitution
– Rule of law
– Judicial review
– Parliamentary system
– Harmony and balance between the Fundamental Rights and DPSP
– Free and fair elections
– Limited power of the parliament to amend the Constitution,etc

IPC issues alert for painkiller mefenamic acid
• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) has issued a drug safety alert for commonly used painkiller mefenamic acid,
popularly sold under the brand name Meftal.
• The adverse drug reaction found during preliminary analysis was eosinophilia and systemic symptoms called DRESS
syndrome.
About Meftal
• The primary constituent of Meftal is Mefenamic acid which is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat mild to
moderate pain.
• Meftal is a commonly used drug for menstrual cramps and rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions as determined by a
doctor, and is available only with a doctor’s prescription.
About Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC)

• IPC is an autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare that sets standards for drugs in the country. It
regularly releases updates on the standards of commonly used drugs.
SOCIAL SECTOR- ISSUES RELATED TO EDUCATION

Increase threshold income for EWS admissions in schools to ₹5 lakh: HC
• The Delhi High Court recently ordered the Delhi government to increase the threshold income for availing EWS reservation in
private schools to ₹5 lakh from the current ₹1 lakh per annum.
What are the reasons given by the court?
• It reasoned that when the minimum wage of an unskilled labourer in the city is ₹17,494 per month, it is too far-fetched to
assume that the total parental income of a child shall be below ₹1 lakh annually.
• It said, the threshold income of ₹1 lakh does not precisely reflect the economic hardships faced by families in the
contemporary times.
• It said a comparative analysis would signify that the NCT of Delhi has the lowest requisite income criteria as compared to the
amount of ₹8 lakh per annum followed by most of the States.
CYBER SECURITY
Cybercrime cases nearly double in Delhi; fraudsters using novel ways, say police
• According to the ‘Crime in India’ report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), there has been a 24.4 percent
increase in Cyber Crime Cases across India.
2022 NCRB Report On Crime in India

• The NCRB report on crime in India is published by the NCRB presents data on reported crimes from across the country
• It includes statistics on offences ranging from financial and commercial crimes to crimes against women.
• The data for the NCRB report is collected by the State Crime Records Bureaux (SCRBx) from the District Crime Records
Bureaux (DCRBx) and sent to NCRB at the end of every calendar year.
• The NCRB report contains comprehensive information on:
o Cases registered and their disposal and
o Persons arrested and their disposal.
Rise in Cyber Crimes:

o Cybercrime reporting surged by 24.4%, totalling 65,893 cases, a significant surge from 52,974 cases in 2021.
o Cyber fraud constituted the majority of cases (64.8%) of registered cases, followed by extortion (5.5%), and sexual
exploitation (5.2%).
• The crime rate under this category rose from 3.9 in 2021 to 4.8 in 2022.
What is Cybercrime?
• Cyber crime is the use of digital technologies such as computers and the internet to commit criminal activities.
• These cases are financial fraud (credit card fraud, online transaction fraud), crime against women and children with regard to
sexually explicit material, and deep fake content etc.
• According to the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, cybercrimes are within the purview of State subjects.
Reasons for increase in Cybercrime

• Rapid Digitalization: With a growing number of individuals and businesses relying on the Internet and digital technologies
there are more opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities.
• Large Internet User Base: India has one of the largest Internet user bases globally. With a large population using the internet,
there are more potential targets for cybercriminals, making it a lucrative market for cyberattacks.
• Inadequate Cybersecurity Infrastructure: In India the cybersecurity infrastructure is still developing. Many organizations,
especially smaller businesses, may not have robust cybersecurity measures in place, making them easy targets for
cybercriminals.
• Insider Threats: Insider threats, where employees or individuals with access to sensitive information misuse it for malicious
purposes, are a significant concern in India, particularly in the corporate sector.
• Payment Systems Vulnerability: With the rise of digital payments and online transactions, there is an increased risk of
financial crimes such as phishing, credit card fraud, and online scams.
• Low digital literacy: Lower awareness among the general public and digital gaps amongst nations create an unsustainable
environment in the cyber domain.
• Vulnerable population: Many senior citizens aren’t aware of using UPI (features) and they fall prey to online scams.
Effects of Cybercrime
Cybercrime can have widespread and significant effects on individuals, businesses, and society as a whole.
• Financial Losses: Cybercrime often leads to substantial financial losses for individuals and organizations. This can result from
theft of funds, fraudulent activities, or the cost of restoring compromised systems.
• Data Breaches: The unauthorized access and theft of sensitive data can lead to data breaches. This compromises the
confidentiality of personal and financial information, causing reputational damage and potential legal consequences.
• Identity Theft: Cybercriminals may use stolen personal information to commit identity theft.
• Disruption of Services: Cyberattacks can disrupt essential services and critical infrastructure, impacting businesses,
governments, and individuals.
• Loss of Intellectual Property: Businesses may suffer from the theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, and proprietary
information. This can undermine competitiveness and innovation, leading to economic repercussions.
• Reputational Damage: Cybercrimes can tarnish the reputation of individuals, organizations, and even entire industries.
• National Security Concerns: Cyberattacks with a geopolitical motive can pose national security threats. These attacks may
target government agencies, critical infrastructure, or defense systems, compromising a nation’s security.
• Global Impact: Cybercrime is not confined by borders, and its effects can have a global impact. Coordinated international
efforts are often required to combat cyber threats effectively.
Government steps for Cybersecurity

• Information Technology Act, 2000: Section 43, 66, 70, and 74 of the IT Act, 2000 deal with hacking and cyber crimes.
• Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber
threats/vulnerabilities and countermeasures to protect computers and networks on a regular basis.
• National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) has been set up to generate necessary situational awareness of existing and
potential cyber security threats and enable timely information sharing for proactive, preventive and protective actions by
individual entities.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra (Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre) has been launched for detection of malicious
programs and provides free tools to remove the same.
• Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise 2023: Bharat NCX will help strategic leaders to better understand cyber threats,
assess readiness, and develop skills for cyber crisis management and cooperation.
Warmest decade in history also saw drop in deaths from ‘extreme climate events’: World Meteorological Organisation
• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a UN weather agency, reported that the Antarctic ice sheet lost 75% compared
to the previous ten years.
• Rise in Temperature:
o As per the report, the Earth is heating, and each decade since the 1990s has been warmer than the previous one and
there is no immediate sign of this trend reversing.
• Melting of Glaciers:
o Glaciers thinned by around 1 metre per year with long-term repercussions for water supplies for many millions of
people, resulting sea level rise will jeopardise the existence of low-lying coastal regions and states in the future.
o Warming oceans and melting of ice sheets caused the rate of sea-level rise to nearly double in less than a generation.
o Greenland and Antarctica lost 38% more ice from 2011 to 2020 than in the previous decade.
• Weather and climate-related events:
o They are responsible for nearly 94% of all disaster displacement recorded over the last decade and had a
major impact on the progress of global efforts to end hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition.
• Floods:
o India had seen intense and widespread flooding. Over 2000 flood-related deaths were reported in India and
neighbouring countries.
o In June 2013, heavy rains, mountain snowmelt and glacial lake outbursts led to extreme flooding and landslides in
Uttarakhand, killing more than 5,800 people.
o In 2018, and in 2019 and 2020, Kerala was badly affected by floods.
• Droughts:
o It had major socioeconomic and humanitarian impacts. In India itself, drought was declared in 11 of its 28 states,
leading to severe food and water insecurity; the situation was exacerbated by inequalities in water availability and
access to its supply.
o 82% of households in affected areas were at risk of food insecurity due to substantial crop failures.
• Heatwaves and Cyclones:
o These were responsible for the highest number of casualties and causing economic damage.

Char Dham Project and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) said that the Char Dham project in Uttarakhand
does not need Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
EIA and Char Dham Project: Background

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is needed for the expansion of National Highways greater than 100 km involving
additional right of way or land acquisition.
• Earlier, MoEFCC had constituted a High-Powered Committee to consider the impact of Char Dham Projects on the entire
Himalayan valleys under the directions of the Supreme Court of India.
o The committee is mandated to consider the impact of Char Dham Projects on the entire Himalayan valleys and give
directions to conduct EIA and rapid EIA.
• However, the MoEFCC said that the Char Dham Project is being developed in smaller parcels of 53 projects, each with a
length of less than 100 km, and each project is independent, having distinct start and end points.
Chardham Road Project

• It envisages all-weather connectivity to four major pilgrimage sites in Uttarakhand – Kedarnath, Badrinath, Yamunotri and
Gangotri.
• Administered by: Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
• Construction by: Border Roads Organization (BRO)
o It works under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence.
• Length: 889 km
• Established in: 1960
• Significance
o To boost tourism, which is the backbone of the state of Uttarakhand.
o To reduce the rate of accidents.
o To improve border security deployment of India armed forces to the Chinese border.
What are the Concerns related to the Project

• Disturbing Himalayan Ecosystem: Unregulated cutting of trees and scooping up land at the base of the hills is irreversibly
damaging the ecosystem as well as making the regions the project passes through dangerously prone to landslides.
• Delayed Implementation: The project was originally scheduled for completion by March 2022. However, it was delayed mainly
due to litigation related to forest and environment clearance in various Courts of Law.
• Unplanned Urbanisation: The unplanned and unauthorised construction has led to the blocking of the natural flow of water,
which eventually results in frequent landslides.
o Himalayan slopes have become extremely unstable in the last few decades due to increased construction,
hydroelectric projects, and the widening of the National Highway.
• Vulnerability to extreme conditions: Himalayas are inherently vulnerable to extreme weather conditions such as heavy rains,
flash floods, and landslides and are seismically active.
o Climate change has added another layer of vulnerability to this ecosystem.
ECONOMY NEWS
Tamil Nadu lags in giving broadband connections under BharatNet infra
• The Ministry of Communications recently said 6,658 gram panchayats had been made service-ready under the BharatNet
Phase II project in Tamil Nadu.
BharatNet Project
• BharatNet, also known as the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), aims to provide high-speed broadband connectivity to
all Gram Panchayats in India.
• It is one of the biggest rural telecom projects in the world approved by the Union Cabinet on 25.10.2011.
• It is implemented in a phased manner to connect all Gram Panchayats (approximately 2.5 lakh) in the country by providing
non-discriminatory access to broadband connectivity to all the telecom service providers.
• Objective is to enable access providers like mobile operators, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Cable TV operators, content
providers to launch various services such as e-health, e-education and e-governance in rural and remote India.
• The project is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), which
has been incorporated under Indian Companies Act 1956.
Status of the Project

• About 1.94 lakh villages have already been connected, the rest are expected to be connected by 2025.
• Additionally, 583,551 Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) connections are commissioned and 104,674 Wi-Fi hotspots are installed to
ensure last-mile connectivity. (as on 24.07.2023)
Expected Benefits of the Project

• Education: Improved access to educational resources and online learning opportunities in rural areas.
• Healthcare: Telemedicine and e-health services can improve access to healthcare in remote areas.
• Agriculture: Farmers can access information on market prices, weather forecasts, and agricultural techniques.
• Entrepreneurship: Rural entrepreneurs can access e-commerce platforms and online markets.
• Governance: Increased transparency and accountability in government services.
o It will also help in the expedition of government’s initiatives such as Make In India, Start-up India, Stand-up India etc
• Employment: It would provide a boost to the economy by generating around 10 crore man-days of employment during the
rollout of the project.
ECONOMY NEWS
Textile industry crisis looms large as demand hits a low
• Textile industry in India is in distress due to the low demand.

• In the past couple of months, many factories across the textile value chain have either shut down and disposed of machinery.
• Reductions in working hours for labourers have impacted wages; and the share of textiles and apparel in the Index of Industrial
Production has shrunk.
About the Textile Industry in India

• Share in Domestic Trade: The domestic apparel & textile industry in India contributes approx. 2.3 % to the country’s
GDP, 13% to industrial production and 12% to exports.
• Share in Global Trade: India has a 4% share of the global trade in textiles and apparel.
• Export: India is the world’s 3rd largest exporter of Textiles and Apparel.
• Production of Raw Material: India is one of the largest producers of cotton and jute in the world. India is also the 2nd largest
producer of silk in the world and 95% of the world’s hand-woven fabric comes from India.
• Employment Generation: The textiles and apparel industry in India is the 2nd largest employer in the country.
What are the Challenges Faced by the Textile Industry?

• Expensive Raw Material: Raw material (fibre) constitutes 60-70% of manufacturing cost, which has turned expensive in India
impacting the competitiveness of the industry severely.
• Cotton Price Fluctuations: India is a major producer and consumer of cotton. Fluctuations in cotton prices can impact the
cost of production for textile manufacturers.
o Managing these price fluctuations is crucial for cost control and profitability.
• Imports from Bangladesh: With Bangladesh having duty-free access to the Indian market, those garments are available at 15-
20% less cost in India.
o When fabric is imported, jobs are lost in cotton, spinning, knitting, compacting, and processing segments in India.
• Competition in the International Market: The overall cost difference between Indian and Bangladesh garments should be
about 2-3%, but the labour costs are lesser in Bangladesh by almost 30%.
o With Bangladesh having duty-free access to the EU, Indian exporters are unable to make inroads.
• Infrastructure Constraints: Infrastructure challenges, including inadequate transportation systems, power shortages, and
outdated technology, can hinder the efficiency of the textile manufacturing process.
• Technology Upgradation: Many textile units in India still use outdated machinery and technology.
o Upgrading technology and adopting advanced manufacturing processes are necessary to improve productivity and
product quality.

Initiatives by Government of India for the Growth of the Textile
• Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS): In order to promote ease of doing business in the country to
achieve the vision of generating employment and promoting exports through “Make in India’’ with “Zero effect and Zero
defect” in manufacturing, ATUFS was launched in 2016 to provide credit linked Capital Investment Subsidy (CIS).
• Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SAMARTH): To address the skilled manpower requirement across textile
sector, the scheme was formulated, under the broad policy guidelines of “Skill India” initiative and in alignment with the
framework adopted for skilling programme by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. The scheme is approved
for implementation till March, 2024.
• National Technical Textile Mission: Creation of National Technical Textiles Mission for a period of 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-
24) was approved for developing usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, programmes of the country including
strategic sectors.
• Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme – The PLI Scheme for Textiles to promote production of Manmade Fibre (MMF)
apparel, MMF Fabrics and Products of Technical Textiles in the country.
• PM-MITRA: To attract investment for ‘Make In India’ initiative and to boost employment generation through setting up of 7 PM
Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Parks in Greenfield/Brownfield sites with world class infrastructure
including plug and play facility for a period of seven years upto 2027-28.
• Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP): SITP is designed to promote textile industry clusters by providing infrastructure
support, including common facilities, utilities, and services.
o The goal is to encourage a more organized and efficient approach to textile manufacturing.
• Integrated Skill Development Scheme (ISDS): ISDS focuses on skill development in the textile sector to address the industry’s
labor challenges.
o It aims to provide training to workers and enhance their employability, contributing to the overall growth of the sector.

The transformative benefits of population-level genome sequencing

The UK has announced the completion of half a million whole-genome sequences, almost 0.7% of its population, under its ‘100K
Genome Project’
What is Population-level Genome sequencing?

• Population-level genome sequencing involves deciphering the complete genetic makeup of large populations.
• This entails sequencing an organism’s entire DNA.
• This offers unprecedented insights into human diversity and can be useful in healthcare sector.
What are the benefits of population-level genome sequencing?

• Understanding disease prevalence and biomarkers which allows discovery of novel therapeutic targets.
• Genomic data can be used in decision-making and medical care to build scalable public-health initiatives.
• It will also contribute significantly to our knowledge of human biology, human evolution, migration patterns, and adaptation
to diverse environments.
What are some other population-level genome sequencing projects?
Genome Initiative Origin Country

AllofUS program U.S
1+ Million Genomes The European Union
Three Million African Genomes By Ambroise Wonkam (Professor) of Cape Town University in
South Africa
deCODE initiatve Iceland
GenomeAsia Project Several Asian countries and the USA
Genomic Initiatives India

• India’s IndiGen Programme: Providing insights into genetic diseases and variants, with plans for a larger GenomeIndia
initiative to sequence 10,000 genomes.
New and Updated 01-09
DECEMBER 2023
PART -01
THE HINDU
NEWS
ANALYSIS




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Re-criminalising adultery as a gender-neutral offence ............................................................................................... 2
Crimes against women, children, SC/ST, and cyber crimes, increased in 2022: Crime in India report ............... 2
Lok Sabha passes Advocates (Amendment) Bill to weed out touts from court complexes ................................. 3
SOCIAL SECTOR- .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Femicides at a twenty-year peak across globe | Data ................................................................................................. 4
Air pollution causes over 2 million deaths annually in India: BMJ study ................................................................. 5
In November, we tipped over 2°C for the first time. What’s going on? ..................................................................... 5
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Cabinet clears terms of reference for 16th Finance Commission ............................................................................ 5
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 6
As deaths due to work-related factors increase, ILO report calls for countries to strengthen safety net ........... 6
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 7
PMI Manufacturing rises to 56 in November bl-premium-article-image .................................................................. 7
India set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite: ISRO .................................................................................... 7
Six exoplanets found orbiting a nearby bright star ...................................................................................................... 8
Regulating deepfakes and generative AI in India......................................................................................................... 8
Re-criminalising adultery as a gender-neutral offence
• The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs, recommended the amendment of the proposed Bharatiya Nyaya
Sanhita Bill, 2023 to criminalize adultery on gender-neutral lines.
• In Joseph Shine vs Union Of India, 2018, the Supreme Court struck down Section 497 of the IPC on grounds that included
discrimination.
• However, it clarified that adultery would continue to remain a civil wrong and a valid ground for divorce.
What is adultery?
• Adultery is a voluntary sexual relationship between a married person and someone who is not their spouse.
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 contained Section 497, defined adultery as a criminal offense. This law made it a crime for a
man to have sexual intercourse with the wife of another man without that man’s consent.
• The law treated women as the property of their husbands and did not provide for any punishment for women who committed
adultery.
Arguments in favor of criminalisation of adultery Arguments against criminalisation of adultery

• Moral wrong: Adultery, although a moral wrong for the
spouse and the family, however, does not result in any
• Parliamentary Committee view: Highlighting the need wrong against the society at large in order to bring it
to protect the institution of marriage, the Committee within the ambit of criminal law.
suggested that adultery be reinstated as a criminal • Discrimination towards unmarried couples: Even after
offense. making the law Gender neutral it differentiates between
• Malimath Committee: In 2003, the Committee on a married and an unmarried couple as unless
Reforms of the Criminal Justice System, proposed that relationships are recognised as marriage, people
adultery be retained as an offense but on gender- cannot be prosecuted.
neutral terms • In 1971, some of the members of the Law Commission
of India raised concerns and were inclined to repeal
section 497.

Crimes against women, children, SC/ST, and cyber crimes, increased in 2022: Crime in India report
• The National Crime Records Bureau has released the annual edition of Crime in India Report.
• Increase in Crime: There is a Increase in Crimes against women, Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), children,
cybercrimes, and offences against the state in 2022 as compared with 2021.
• Crime Against Women: There was a 4% increase in the number of cases registered under the crimes against women in 2022
as compared to 2021.
o The majority of cases were registered under ‘cruelty by husband or his relatives’ (31.4%) followed by ‘kidnapping and
abduction of women’ (19.2%), ‘assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty’ (18.7%), and ‘rape’ (7.1%).
• Crime Against Children: Registration of cases of crimes against children showed an increase of 8.7% over 2021.
• Juveniles in Conflict with Law: A total of 30,555 cases have been registered against Juveniles during 2022, depicting decline
of 2.0% over 2021. The crime rate depicts a decline from 7.0 in 2021 to 6.9 in 2022.
• Crime Against Senior Citizens: The registered cases showed an increase of 9.3% over 2021.
• Cyber Crime: During 2022, 64.8% of the cyber crime cases registered were with the motive of fraud, followed by extortion at
5.5%, and sexual exploitation at 5.2%.
o A total of 65,893 cases were registered under cyber crimes, showing an increase of 24.4% in registration over 2021.
• Decrease in Registration of Crime: The report shows a decline of 4.5% in the registration of cases over 2021.
o Major decline is seen in the cases registered under ‘disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant’
(Section 188 of the IPC) and under ‘other IPC crimes’.
• Charge sheeting:
o The State/UT reporting highest Charge-sheeting Rate under IPC Crimes are Kerala (96.0%), Puducherry (91.3%) and
West Bengal (90.6%).
• Metropolitan Cities:19 Metropolitan Cities : Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Ghaziabad, Hyderabad,
Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Pune and Surat.
o Cities reporting highest Charge-sheeting Rate under IPC Crimes are Kochi (95.9%), Patna (89.9%) and Kozhikode
(89.4%)
o Maximum theft cases were reported in Delhi followed by Mumbai, Jaipur and Bengaluru.
o Delhi is the most unsafe metropolitan city for women in the country, recording on an average three rape cases daily.

Measures Taken by Government of India to Curb Crime
• Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2018: It was enacted to prescribe even more stringent penal provisions including death
penalty for rape of a girl below the age of 12 years.
o The Act also mandates completion of investigation and trials within 2 months each.
• National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB): The NCRB plays a vital role in collecting, analyzing, and publishing crime data,
providing insights for policy formulation and law enforcement strategies.
• Modernization of Police Forces: Implementation of various schemes and programs to modernize police forces with better
infrastructure, equipment, and training. Emphasis on the use of technology for crime prevention, investigation, and
surveillance.
• Specialized Units: Establishment of specialized units within police forces to address specific types of crimes, such as
cybercrime units, anti-trafficking units, and specialized cells for crimes against women and children.
• National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO): Introduction of the NDSO in 2018 to maintain a comprehensive database of
individuals convicted of sexual offenses, aiding in tracking and monitoring sexual offenders.
• Strengthening Judiciary: Initiatives to expedite the legal process and reduce the backlog of cases, ensuring swift justice.
• Smart Policing Initiatives: Use of technology, including surveillance cameras, facial recognition, and data analytics, to
enhance policing and crime detection capabilities.
• One Stop Centre (OSC) scheme is being implemented across the country since 2015 which is exclusively designed to provide
integrated services such as medical aid, police assistance, legal counselling/ court case management, psycho-social
counselling and temporary shelter to women affected by violence under one roof.
• Emergency Response Support System provides a pan-India, single, internationally recognized number (112) based system for
all emergencies, with computer aided dispatch of field resources to the location of distress.
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: The Bill repeals the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC). Changes include introduction of
offences of organised crime and terrorism, enhancement in penalties for certain existing offences, and introduction of
community service as a punishment for certain petty offences.

Lok Sabha passes Advocates (Amendment) Bill to weed out touts from court complexes

The Advocates Amendment Bill
• The Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023, was passed in the Lok Sabha during the first day of Parliament’s Winter Session.
• The bill aims to eliminate ‘touts’ from the legal system by repealing the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879, and amending the
Advocates Act, 1961.
• The bill focuses on reducing unnecessary enactments in the statute book and eliminating obsolete laws.
What does the now-repealed 1879 Act state
• The Legal Practitioners Act, enacted in 1880, aimed to consolidate and amend the law related to legal practitioners in certain
provinces.
• The Act applied to areas in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Orissa, and Delhi, and could
be extended to other states by their governments.
• Section 2 defined “legal practitioner” to include advocates, vakils, or attorneys of any High Court.
• It also introduced the term “tout,” referring to someone who procures employment for a legal practitioner in exchange for
remuneration.
• The Advocates Act of 1961 repealed most provisions of the 1879 Act but retained elements related to its extent, definitions,
and powers to frame and publish lists of touts.
What is the Advocates Act of 1961:

• The Advocates Act of 1961 was enacted to amend and consolidate the law concerning legal practitioners and the
establishment of Bar Councils and an All-India Bar.
• Before its enactment, legal practitioners were governed by three Acts – the Legal Practitioners Act of 1879, the Bombay
Pleaders Act of 1920, and the Indian Bar Councils Act of 1926.
• The need for judicial administration reforms post-independence prompted the Law Commission to recommend repealing the
1879 Act in its 249th Report, titled ‘Obsolete Laws: Warranting Immediate Repeal’.
• The All-India Bar Committee also provided recommendations in 1953, contributing to the passage of the 1961 Act.
What does the Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023, say:

• The Advocates Amendment Bill, 2023, has been passed in the Lok Sabha to eliminate ‘touts’ from the legal system.
• The bill repeals the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879, and amends the Advocates Act, 1961, with the aim of reducing superfluous
enactments and eliminating obsolete laws.
• The new Section 45A allows High Courts and district judges to frame and publish lists of touts.
• Individuals can contest their inclusion in such lists before publication.
• If found to be a tout, their names will be published and displayed in every court.
• The Bill also imposes penalties for acting as a tout while included in such a list.
SOCIAL SECTOR-
Femicides at a twenty-year peak across globe | Data
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women has released the global research brief on the gender-
related killings of women and girls.
• Gender-related killings of women and girls can be defined as intentional killings committed on the grounds of gender-related
factors.
• Factors: These can include the ideology of men’s entitlement and privilege over women, social norms regarding masculinity,
and the need to assert male control or power, enforce gender roles, or prevent, discourage or punish what is considered to be
unacceptable female behaviour.
What are the major Findings?

• Trends:
o Globally, nearly 89,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2022, the highest yearly number recorded in the
past two decades.
o While the overall number of homicides globally has begun to fall in 2022, the number of female homicides are not
decreasing.
• Family-related homicide:
o In 2022, around 48,800 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members.
o Females represent approximately 53% of all victims of killings in the home and 66% of all victims of intimate partner
killings. Whereas, only 12% of male homicide victims were killed by persons known to them.
• Regional Estimate:
o With an estimated 20,000 victims in 2022, Africa has – for the first time since 2013, surpassed Asia as the region
with the highest number of victims in absolute terms.
• Indian Scenario:
o There has been a small decline in gender-based killings in India over the past decade.
o The killing of women due to dowry-related reasons, accusations of witchcraft and other gender-related factors still
persists.

Air pollution causes over 2 million deaths annually in India: BMJ study
• Outdoor air pollution from all sources accounts for 2.18 million deaths per year in India according to a study published in The
British Medical Journal (BMJ).
• Mortality:
o Air pollution from using fossil fuels in industry, power generation, and transportation accounts for 5.1 million extra
deaths a year worldwide.
o This equates to 61% of a total estimated 8.3 million deaths worldwide, which could potentially be avoided by
replacing fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy sources.
• Region Wise:
o Attributable deaths to all sources of ambient air pollution were highest across South and East Asia, particularly in
China followed by India.
• Recommendation:
o Phasing out fossil fuels would result in 80-85% of potentially preventable deaths from all anthropogenic sources of
ambient air pollution in South, South East and East Asia.

In November, we tipped over 2°C for the first time. What’s going on?
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a warm winter season across the country, saying minimum
temperature could remain higher than normal.
• The sudden spike in warming in 2023 comes from a combination of factors – climate change, a strong El Nino, sea ice failing
to reform after winter, reduced aerosol pollution and increased solar activity.
o In September, the world passed 1.5°C of warming, and two months later, hit 2°C of warming. World is now 2°C hotter
than it was in the pre-industrial period.
o As per the recent observations by the IMD, the region remained 2.4°C above the threshold.
• It is aggravated by, in addition, the regional factors like western disturbances and the upcoming cyclone developing in the Bay
of Bengal, there are chances of higher-than-normal minimum temperatures, making it a warm winter season in the country.
ECONOMY NEWS
Cabinet clears terms of reference for 16th Finance Commission
• The Union Cabinet has approved Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Sixteenth Finance Commission.
• The distribution and the allocation of the net proceeds of taxes between the Union and the States and between States are to
be, or may be, divided between them under Chapter I, Part XII of the Constitution of India.
• The 16th Finance Commission’s recommendations would cover the period of five years commencing April 1, 2026.
o The Finance Commission shall make its report available by 31st day of October, 2025 covering a period of five years
commencing on the 1st day of April, 2026.
o The Advance Cell of the 16th FC was formed in the Ministry of Finance to oversee preliminary work, pending formal
constitution of the Finance Commission.
• The principles which should govern the grants-in-aid of the revenues of the States out of the Consolidated Fund of India and
the sums to be paid to the States by way of grants-in-aid of their revenues under Article 275 of the Constitution for the
purposes other than those specified in the provisos to clause (1) of that article.
• The measures needed to augment the Consolidated Fund of a State to supplement the resources of the Panchayats and
Municipalities in the State on the basis of the recommendations made by the Finance Commission of the State.
• The Commission may review the present arrangements on financing Disaster Management initiatives, with reference to the
funds constituted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and make appropriate recommendations thereon.
ECONOMY NEWS
As deaths due to work-related factors increase, ILO report calls for countries to strengthen safety net
• The ILO (International Labour Organization) has released a report titled ‘A Call for Safer and Healthier Working
Environments’.
• The report was discussed at the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, one of the largest international
conferences on this subject.
• Global Burden of Work Related Injuries:
o Nearly 30 lakh workers die every year globally due to work-related accidents and diseases.
o More than 63% of these deaths are reported from the Asia-Pacific region.
• Factors Responsible:
o Exposure to long working hours (55 hours or more per week) was the biggest killer, followed by exposure to
occupational particulate matter, gases, and fumes and occupational injuries.
• Global Burden of Work Related Diseases: The diseases that caused most work-related deaths were circulatory diseases,
malignant neoplasms and respiratory diseases.
o The attributable fraction of work-related deaths is estimated to be highest in Africa, followed by Asia and the Pacific
and Oceania.
o The rate of trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers attributable to occupational exposure to chromium doubled between
2000 and 2016.
o The rate of non-melanoma skin cancer increased by over 37% between 2000 and 2020.
• Hazardous Sectors: Mining and quarrying, construction, and utilities sectors were the three most hazardous sectors globally.
o Each year, 200,000 fatal injuries occur in these sectors, representing 60 per cent of all fatal occupational injuries.
• Positive Trends: Deaths due to exposure to asthmagens and particulate matter, gases, and fumes decreased by over 20%
• ILO Conventions:
o So far 79 out of the 187 member countries have ratified the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention, while 62
countries have ratified the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006. India has
not ratified both the conventions.
o In the wake of the Uttarkashi tunnel incident, the Central Trade Unions had urged the Union government to ratify the
conventions.
• Recommendations:
o The five categories of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work:
o Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
o Elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
o Abolition of child labour;
o Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation;
o A safe and healthy working environment.
ECONOMY NEWS
PMI Manufacturing rises to 56 in November bl-premium-article-image
• India’s manufacturing sector has performed better with Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 56 in November against
55.5 in October.
About PMI
• PMI is an economic indicator derived from monthly surveys of private sector companies.
• It provides insight into the health of a country’s manufacturing sector. It is widely used by businesses, analysts, and
policymakers to gauge the economic activity and overall business conditions.
• Released by: For India, PMI is released by S&P Global. (Earlier released by IHS Markit before it was merged with S&P Global)
• Scale: The PMI is presented as an index number on a scale of 0 to 100. A PMI reading above 50 generally indicates expansion
in the manufacturing sector, while a reading below 50 suggests contraction.
• Types:
o Two types of PMI are there: Services PMI and Manufacturing PMI.
• Survey Methodology:
o It is based on surveys conducted among purchasing managers in a representative sample of companies (For India
approx 500 companies are surveyed).
o Managers are asked about changes in production, employment, inventories, and new orders, among other factors.
• Timelines:
o Released on a monthly basis, making it a timely indicator of economic conditions.

India set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite: ISRO

XPoSat will be launched by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the SatishDhawan Space Center in Sriharikota.
X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite (XPoSat) Mission:

• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has announced that India is set to launch its first X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite
(XPoSat), aiming to investigate the polarisation of intense X-Ray sources.
• Space-based X-Ray astronomy: It has been established in India, focusing predominantly on imaging, time-domain studies, and
spectroscopy, the upcoming XPoSat mission marks a major value addition.
• Observation: The XPoSat spacecraft is designated for observation from Low Earth Orbit (non-sun synchronous orbit of ~650
km altitude, low inclination of approximately six degree), carrying two scientific payloads.
• Spatial and Temporal Studies: With these two payloads, the XPoSat mission is capable of simultaneous studies of temporal,
spectral, and polarization features of the bright X-Ray sources.
• Mission Objective: The mission objectives include measurement of X-Ray polarization in the energy band of 8-30 keV
emanated from X-Ray sources, long-term spectral and temporal studies of cosmic X-Ray sources in the energy band of 0.8-15
keV.
• Observe the X-Ray sources: The payloads onboardXPoSat will observe the X-Ray sources during the spacecraft’s transit
through the Earth’s shadow, i.e., during the eclipse period.
• Primary Payloads: The primary payload of XPoSat, POLIX (Polarimeter Instrument in X-rays), is designed to measure
polarimetry parameters —specifically the degree and angle of polarization — in the medium X-ray energy range of 8-30 keV
photons originating from astronomical sources.
o The POLIX payload was developed by the Raman Research Institute (RRI), Bengaluru, with support from various ISRO
centres.
• Secondary payload: The secondary payload is the XSPECT (X-ray Spectroscopy and Timing) payload, which will provide
spectroscopic information within the energy range of 0.8-15 keV.
o The XSPECT payload was developed by the U.R. Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), ISRO.
Six exoplanets found orbiting a nearby bright star
• Six exoplanets orbiting around a nearby bright star HD 110067 in the Coma Berenices constellation have been discovered.
What is an exoplanet?
• An exoplanet is any planet beyond our solar system.
• Most orbit other stars, but free-floating exoplanets, called rogue planets, orbit the galactic center and are untethered to any
star.
About the Discovery

• HD 110067 is a bright star in the Coma Berenices constellation (around 100 light-years away), which is visible from Earth’s
Northern Hemisphere.
• Observations of HD 110067 made by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) in 2020 and 2022 revealed
several dips in the star’s brightness, and with additional observations from the ‘CHaracterising ExOPlanets Satellite’
(CHEOPS) the signals were interpreted as six planets passing in front of the star.
Physical Characteristics of Exoplanets

• The newly discovered exoplanets have radii between that of Earth and Neptune. The mass and density of the planets are
low.
• The reason for low densities could be due to large, hydrogen-rich atmospheres on the exoplanets.
• All six exoplanets are in resonant orbits, in which the planets exert regular forces on each other as they orbit. This feature
suggests that the system remains practically unchanged since its birth, at least four billion years ago.
TESS ( Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite)

• TESS is a Space Telescope launched by NASA in 2018.
• The mission aim is to detect small planets with bright host stars in the solar neighborhood, so that detailed characterizations
of the planets and their atmospheres can be performed.
How does TESS find Planets?

• TESS detects exoplanets by looking for periodic dips in stars’ brightness as planets cross in front of them along our sightline.
• The larger the planet, the further the drop in brightness during the transit.
• How long it takes a planet to pass in front of the star and come back tells us the shape of its orbit.

Regulating deepfakes and generative AI in India
• The government had issued notices to social media platforms following reports of deepfake content.
About Deepfakes
• They are digital media which are created by altering media — images, video, or audio using technologies such as Artificial
Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, thereby blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
• The first-ever use of deepfake technology can reportedly be traced back to a Reddit contributor who in 2017 had used a
publicly available AI-driven software to create pornographic content by imposing the faces of celebrities onto the bodies of
ordinary people.
What are its Impacts?

• Although they have clear benefits in education, film production, criminal forensics, and artistic expression, they can also
be used to exploit people, sabotage elections and spread large-scale misinformation.
• The use of deepfakes to perpetrate technology-facilitated online gendered violence has been a rising concern.
• They can potentially be used to damage reputations, fabricate evidence, and undermine trust in democratic institutions.
What is India’s regulatory approach?

• India lacks specific laws to address deepfakes and AI-related crimes, but provisions under a plethora of legislations could offer
both civil and criminal relief.
o For instance, Section 66E of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act) is applicable in cases of deepfake
crimes that involve the capture, publication, or transmission of a person’s images in mass media thereby violating
their privacy.
o Such an offence is punishable with up to three years of imprisonment or a fine of ₹2 lakh.
o Similarly, Section 66D of the IT Act punishes individuals who use communication devices or computer resources
with malicious intent, leading to impersonation or cheating.
▪ An offence under this provision carries a penalty of up to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of ₹1 lakh.
o Further, Sections 67, 67A, and 67B of the IT Act can be used to prosecute individuals for publishing or transmitting
deep fakes that are obscene or contain any sexually explicit acts.
o The IT Rules, also prohibit hosting ‘any content that impersonates another person’ and require social media
platforms to quickly take down ‘artificially morphed images’ of individuals when alerted.
o Provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, (IPC) can also be resorted to for cybercrimes associated with deepfakes
— Sections 509 (words, gestures, or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 499 (criminal defamation), and
153 (a) and (b) (spreading hate on communal lines) among others.
o The Delhi Police Special Cell has reportedly registered an FIR against unknown persons by invoking Sections 465
(forgery) and 469 (forgery to harm the reputation of a party) in the Mandanna case.
o The Copyright Act of 1957 can be used if any copyrighted image or video has been used to create deepfakes.
▪ Section 51 prohibits the unauthorised use of any property belonging to another person and on which the
latter enjoys an exclusive right.
New and Updated 01-04 NOVEMBER 2023
THE HINDU
NEWS
ANALYSIS




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tamil Nadu Governor’s indefinite holding back of Bills a matter of ‘serious concern’, says Supreme Court ..... 2
Staff shortage, financial dependency plague local governance ................................................................................ 2
Draft National Pharmaceuticals Policy 2023 ............................................................................................................... 3
UPSC tightens guidelines for appointment of State DGPs ......................................................................................... 4
NMC to launch ‘one nation, one registration platform’ for doctors........................................................................... 5
DEFENCE & SECURITY ............................................................................................................................................................ 5
Army’s Light Combat Helicopter Prachand successfully carries out inaugural firing ............................................ 5
CBAM will kill EU manufacturing, India will have its own carbon taxes: Goyal ....................................................... 5
Kozhikode, Gwalior added to UNESCO creative cities list .......................................................................................... 6
National dam safety team faults planning, design of Kaleshwaram project’s barrage in Telangana.................. 7
TRANSPORT NEWS ................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Nearly 1.68 lakh people died in 4.61 lakh road accidents in 2022: Road Ministry report ...................................... 7
Modi, Hasina to jointly inaugurate Akhaura-Agartala rail link on November 1 ........................................................ 8
The stance of the Maldives President-elect on India | Explained .............................................................................. 9
Inside India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’, a challenge harder than going to space ...................................................... 10
What is Bletchley Declaration on AI ............................................................................................................................. 11
Tamil Nadu Governor’s indefinite holding back of Bills a matter of ‘serious concern’, says Supreme Court
• The Tamil Nadu Government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court against Governor R N Ravi over the alleged delay in
clearing bills.
• The present Writ Petition is being filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, to declare that the inaction, omission,
delay and failure to comply with the constitutional mandate by the Governor.
• The petition seeks a direction to the Governor to clear Bills and files and Government orders within a specified timeframe.
Related Constitutional Provisions

• Under Article 200, the Governor may grant assent, withhold assent, return for reconsideration by the Legislature or reserve for
the consideration of the President any Bill passed by the State legislature.
• There is no time frame fixed in the Constitution for any of these functions.
• Governor may, as soon as possible return the Bill if it is not a Money Bill and, when a Bill is so returned, the House shall
reconsider the Bill accordingly, and if the Bill is passed again by the House with or without amendment the Governor shall not
withhold assent therefrom.
• The Constitution makes it mandatory that the Governor should reserve for the President’s consideration any Bill that seems to
clip the wings of the High Court or undermine its functioning.
o Such a bill will not become a law without the President’s assent.
Critical Analysis
• Omission from the Constitution: Section 75 of the Government of India Act, 1935, contained the words ‘in his discretion’ while
referring to the Governor’s grant of assent to Bills. The phrase was consciously omitted when the Constitution was enacted.
• Views of Framers of the Constitution: The Constituent Assembly was of the opinion that the states were indeed sovereign
within their own domain, that the discretionary power, beyond the specific situations mentioned in the constitution, does not
enable a governor to override the state government.
• Against Public Interest: A Bill is brought by the government when there is an urgent need for a law on a particular matter. So,
if the governor does not take any action on it as per the constitution, he is actually harming the public interest.
• Against the Spirit of Constitution: Since not taking any decision indefinitely is not an option provided by the
constitution, governors who do this are clearly acting in a manner that is not constitutionally sanctioned.
• SC Verdict: In Shamsher Singh v State of Punjab (1974) Supreme Court held that the governor does not enjoy any executive
powers and that he can act only on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. In reality, executive powers are vested in
the elected government, which is responsible to the legislature.
• Act in accordance with Council of Ministers: During the debate in the constituent assembly on the post of governor, Dr B.R.
Ambedkar had clearly stated that the governor has no powers in our constitutional setup and needs to act only in accordance
with the advice given by the council of ministers in the state.

Staff shortage, financial dependency plague local governance

An Annual Survey of India’s City-Systems (ASICS) 2023 of Indian cities shows that a majority of local governments are financially
dependent on their State governments.
• Asymmetry of power across four city categories — megacities (>4 million (mn) population), large cities (1-4 mn), medium
cities (0.5 mn-1 mn), small cities (<0.5 mn).
o It shows that while megacities have more say over their finances, their mayors do not have a five-year tenure and are
not directly elected.
o On the other hand, more mayors in smaller cities have a five-year tenure and are directly elected, but lack a say on
the city’s finances.
• The report also shows that mayors and councils have limited power in staff appointments and promotions.
• Cities especially lack control over their senior management teams who are deputed directly by State governments, which
makes it tough to initiate disciplinary proceedings against them if needed.
• The report also mentions the lack of transparency in publishing cities’ civic information which citizens can access easily.
o Only 11 of the 35 States/Union Territories have enacted the Public Disclosure Law that mandates publishing of key
civic data.
• Due to poor control over appointment of staff, the local governments suffer from high levels of unfilled posts.
o Data show that 35% of posts in India’s municipal corporations are vacant.
o The vacancy progressively worsens with 41% posts being vacant among municipalities and 58% being vacant in town
panchayats.
• A comparison with other metropolises such as New York, London and Johannesburg shows that such a crippling shortage of
staff is limited to Indian cities.
• Data shows the number of city staff per one lakh population.
o There are 5,906 city workers in New York and 2,936 in London for every one lakh population compared to just 317 in
Bengaluru, 586 in Hyderabad, and 938 in Mumbai.
o Cities such as New York also been empowered to impose taxes, approve their own budget, invest and borrow without
approval.
What are its Impacts of limitations and challenges faced by Indian cities?
• Service Delivery: Limited financial autonomy hampers local bodies' ability to allocate funds effectively for essential services,
hindering infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and other civic amenities.
• Accountability and Corruption: Lack of transparency may lead to corruption and misuse of funds, eroding public trust and
reducing accountability in local governance.
• Citizen Participation: Weak governance structures can restrict citizen involvement in decision-making processes, impeding
the representation and consideration of local community needs and concerns.
• Economic Development: Insufficient financial autonomy constrains the ability to invest in local economic development,
thereby limiting job creation and overall growth.
• Service Quality: Weak governance structures and financial constraints could result in substandard service quality and
inefficient resource utilization, impacting citizens' quality of life.
• Efficiency and Effectiveness: Transparency issues in governance might limit the efficacy of local bodies in executing projects,
leading to delays, cost overruns, and inefficiencies.
• Sustainable Development: Financial limitations may hinder investments in sustainable development projects, impeding the
adoption of eco-friendly initiatives and smart city practices.

Draft National Pharmaceuticals Policy 2023
• The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has recently released a draft National Pharmaceuticals Policy (NPP) for 2023.
• The aim is to craft a holistic policy for the pharmaceutical sector in India.

Vision and Pillars:
• Designed to make India a global leader in pharmaceuticals.
• Supports self-reliance in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
• Seeks to improve health equity and access to medicine.
• Aims to streamline regulatory processes in the sector.
• Encourages investment to enhance the sector’s growth.
Other features:
• The policy aligns with ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’, driving towards domestic innovation and global quality
standards.
• A high-level task force will oversee policy implementation.
• A decade-long strategy will guide timely policy and program interventions.
Current State of Indian Pharma Industry:
• It’s the world’s 3rd largest by volume, valued at around USD 50 Billion.
• Known for being a significant supplier of affordable generics and vaccines.
• Exports span 200 countries, including stringent regulatory regions.
• Bulk drug and intermediates exports amounted to Rs 33,320 crore in 2021-22.
• Imports of Bulk Drugs/APIs are economically driven, indicating a dependency.
• Infrastructure: India hosts the largest number of US FDA-approved plants outside the USA.
Government Initiatives:
• Production Linked Incentive schemes.
• Development of Bulk Drug Parks.
• Schemes like Pharmaceutical Technology Upgradation Assistance (PTUAS), National R&D Policy, and the Promotion of
Research and Innovation in Pharma-MedTech (PRIP) to support sector growth.
Challenges:
• Measures to ensure the safety and quality of drugs need improvement.
• Some drugs fail quality standards, indicating a need for better oversight.
• Higher production costs compared to countries like China.
• Raw materials, electricity, and other overheads contribute to the cost.
Other Industry Challenges:
• Heavy reliance on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and Key Starting Materials (KSMs).
• Regulatory inefficiencies are prevalent.
• Skilled manpower and innovation funding are limited.

UPSC tightens guidelines for appointment of State DGPs
• Several States have appointed acting DGPs, instead of regular DGPs, to avoid the UPSC process. Many States have appointed
‘in-charge’ DGPs, or DGPs with ‘full additional charge’.
What do the guidelines say?

• It says officers with 25 years experience to be appointed as a DGP, against the earlier requirement of a minimum 30 years of
service.
• The number of shortlisted officers cannot exceed three, but may consist of less than three officers in ‘exceptional
circumstances’.
• These officers are to be of the rank of ADG or the rank of police chief (and one below) stipulated for that state. The list is
supposed to be given to UPSC six months before the incumbent DGP is to retire.
• An empanelment committee headed by the UPSC chairman, and with the union home secretary, state chief secretary, state
DGP, and the chief of a central police organisation in it, is supposed to select a panel of three officers “based on merit”.
• Defining experience:
o The revised guidelines indicate the relevant areas to assess the range of experience of an IPS officer to head a State
police department.
o It requires ten years of experience in areas such as law and order, crime branch, economic offences wing, or
intelligence wing, and deputation to central bodies such as the Intelligence Bureau, Research and Analysis Wing, or
Central Bureau of Investigation, among others.
What are the Issues with Appointments?

• Interim Status: The appointed DGP officer spent their entire tenure in interim status which is against the supreme court order
where the SC has said there must be no temporary or ad hoc appointments of police chiefs.
• Seniority vs Merit issue: The senior officers challenge the appointment of Junior officers as DGP on grounds of seniority. The
UPSC defended its decision in court on the grounds of merit over seniority.
• Extension of Tenure: Sometimes the officers are given an extension of tenure beyond the stipulated term of 2 years.
• State-Centre friction: The centre has the power to not release the officer for posting in the state which the state recommends
in the list, leading to friction.
NMC to launch ‘one nation, one registration platform’ for doctors

The National Medical Commission (NMC)will launch its “one nation, one registration platform’‘ for doctors across the country

• The NMC will unveil a patch pilot of the National Medical Register (NMR) in the next six months where doctors will be allotted
a unique identification number and then can also apply for their licence to work in any State depending on where they are.
o The commission had earlier this year issued a gazette notification titled “Registration of Medical Practitioners and
Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023” announcing the move.
• The data of nearly 14 lakh doctors presently registered in the system will be transferred to the NMR.
• Objectives:
o The idea is to provide a masked ID to undergraduate students on the NMR and depending on when they complete
their course the ID is unmasked and allotted.
o It will eliminate duplication, red tape and allow the public to access information on any physician working in India.
DEFENCE & SECURITY

Army’s Light Combat Helicopter Prachand successfully carries out inaugural firing
• Army’s Light Combat Helicopter Prachand successfully carries out inaugural firing.
About LCH Prachand
• LCH is the first indigenous Multi-Role Combat Helicopter designed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics
Limited(HAL).
• The helicopter has modern stealth features, strong armor protection, and powerful night attack capabilities.
• It comes equipped with an advanced navigation system, guns designed for close combat, and effective air-to-air missiles,
which make it well-suited for today’s battlefield.
• It can operate in high-altitude areas and perform accurate strikes on targets located at high altitudes.
• It is the only attack helicopter in the World to land and take off at high altitudes of 5,000 meters while carrying a significant
load of weapons and fuel.

CBAM will kill EU manufacturing, India will have its own carbon taxes: Goyal
• The Minister of Commerce and Industry has said that the CBAM is “unfair” as carbon could not be priced the same in India
and Europe.
What is CBAM?
• As part of a plan to decarbonize its economy by 2050, the European Union introduced a carbon border adjustment
mechanism (CBAM).
• It is a duty on imports based on the amount of carbon emissions resulting from the production of the product in question.
• Its primary objective is to avert ‘carbon leakage’. It refers to a phenomenon where a EU manufacturer moves carbon-intensive
production to countries outside the region with less stringent climate policies.
• In other words, replace EU-manufactured products with more carbon-intensive imports.
What is the need for the CBAM?

• The idea here is to avert the possibility of carbon leakage alongside encouraging producers in non-EU countries to green their
manufacturing processes.
• To ensure a level playing field between imports and EU products.
• This would also form part of the continent’s broader European Green Deal which endeavours to achieve 55% reduction in
carbon emissions compared to 1990 levels by 2030 and become a climate neutral continent by 2050.
Latest developments
• On 1 October 2023, the CBAM entered into application in its transitional phase, with the first reporting period for importers
ending 31 January 2024.
• The CBAM will initially apply to imports of certain goods and selected precursors whose production is carbon intensive and
at most significant risk of carbon leakage: cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen.
What are the Challenges for India?

• Acting as a trade barrier: With the CBAM in effect from 1 October, India’s exports of carbon-laden products to Europe—mainly
aluminium and iron-and-steel—have been burdened with green reporting rules which is a trade barrier in itself.
• Uncompetitive exports:
o India’s products have a higher carbon intensity than its European counterparts, the carbon tariffs imposed will be
proportionally higher making Indian exports substantially uncompetitive.
o EU being India’s third largest trade partner and given the latter’s projected growth trajectories, the size of exports
(including in the CBAM sectors) will invariably rise.
• May push for similar regulations worldwide: International climate policies (including CBAM) will compel other countries to
impose similar regulation eventually translating to ‘a significant impact’ on India’s trading relationships and balance of
payments.

Kozhikode, Gwalior added to UNESCO creative cities list

Recently, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) announced the addition of 55 new cities to its
Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Among the new entrants, two Indian cities made their mark: Kozhikode in Kerala as the ‘City of
Literature’ and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh as the ‘City of Music’.
What is the Significance of Kozhikode and Gwalior?

▪ Kozhikode as City of Literature:
o Kozhikode is the first city in India to receive the prestigious title of ‘City of Literature’ by UNESCO.
o The city has a long history of hosting various literary events, such as the Kerala Literature Festival, which is one of
the largest literary gatherings in Asia.
• This acknowledgement reinforces the city's role as a hub for intellectual exchange and literary discussions.
• Kozhikode carried the distinction of being home to over 500 libraries.
o The city is also home to many renowned writers, including S. K. Pottekkatt (the most celebrated writer of the city),
Thikkodiyan and P. Valsala Sanjayan, along with poets, scholars, and publishers who have contributed to the diversity
and vibrancy of Malayalam literature and culture.
▪ Gwalior as the City of Music:

o Gwalior is the second city in India to be designated as the ‘City of Music’ by UNESCO, after Varanasi in 2015.
o The city is widely regarded as the birthplace of Tansen, one of the greatest musicians and composers in Indian
history, who was also one of the ‘Navratnas’ (nine jewels) in the court of Emperor Akbar.
o The city is also the origin of the Gwalior Gharana, the oldest and most influential school of Hindustani classical
music.
o The city hosts one of the biggest annual music festivals in India, the Tansen Sangeet Samaroh, which attracts
thousands of music lovers and artists from across the country and abroad.

UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)
▪ It was created in 2004.
▪ It aims to “promote cooperation among cities which recognize creativity as a strategic factor in their urban development”.
▪ Sustainable Development Goal 11 aims for Sustainable Cities and Communities.
▪ The network covers seven creative fields: crafts and folk arts, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature and music.

National dam safety team faults planning, design of Kaleshwaram project’s barrage in Telangana
• The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) examined the Medigadda (Laxmi) Barrage of the Kaleshwaram irrigation project in
Telangana.
Dams in India
• India has 4,407 large dams, the third highest number in the world after China (23,841) and the USA (9,263).
• Maharashtra has the maximum number of large dams followed by Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Dam Failures in India

• The first failure was recorded in Madhya Pradesh during 1917 when the Tigra Dam failed due to overtopping.
• The worst dam disaster was the failure of Machu dam (Gujarat) in 1979 in which about 2000 people died.
• There are 40 reported failure cases so far.
What are the reasons for the Dam Failures in India?

• The most common cause of dam failures in India has been breaching – accounting for about 44% of cases – followed
by overtopping that accounted for about 25% failures.
• Majority of Indian dams have failed immediately after construction or at the time of first full-load, which can be clearly
attributed to factors of either inadequate design or poor quality of construction.
• For example :
o The NDSA team has recently found fault with the planning and design of the Medigadda barrage
o The report also felt that the reconstruction work had to be taken up from the foundation level of the barrage.
o Two other barrages — Annaram and Sundilla barrages — also have similar designs and construction methodologies.
Why Dam Safety is a Priority Concern in India?

• Aging of Dams: With the increasing number of dams becoming older and older, the likelihood of dam failures in India is
expected to be an ascending path. There are 227 large dams in India which are more than 100 years old
• Structural Deficiencies: Many dams have varied structural deficiencies and shortcomings in operation and monitoring
facilities, while few do not meet the present design standard- both structurally and hydrologically.
• Lack of Institutional and Technical Capacities: Most of the States have been failing to provide sufficient budgets for
maintenance and repair of the dam.
• Many States also lack the institutional and technical capacities for addressing dam safety issues.
• Hazard to human life and property downstream.
TRANSPORT NEWS
Nearly 1.68 lakh people died in 4.61 lakh road accidents in 2022: Road Ministry report
• The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) released an annual report titled as ‘Road accidents in India —
2022’.
• This report is based on the data/information received from Police Departments of States/UTs on a calendar year basis in
standardised formats as provided by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP) under the Asia Pacific Road Accident Data (APRAD) base project.
Highlights of the Report:
• It marks an 11.9% year-on-year rise in accidents and a 9.4% increase in fatalities. There was a 15.3% surge in the number of
people getting injured in 2022.
• A total of 4,61,312 road accidents occurred in 2022, which claimed 1,68,491 lives, while 4,43,366 people were injured.
• As per the report, during 2022, a total of 4,61,312 accidents were recorded in the country, of which, 1,51,997 (32.9%) took place
on the National Highways (NH), including expressways, 1,06,682 (23.1%) on State Highways (SH) and the remaining 2,02,633
(43.9%) on other roads.
What are the Key Takeaways?

• Overspeeding is the biggest killer:
o In 2022, over speeding accounted for 72.3% of the total road accidents, 71.2% of total deaths and 72.8% of total
injuries, up 12.8%, 11.8% and 15.2% respectively when compared to the previous year.
o Driving on the wrong side was the second highest cause of the total road accidents in 2022, accounting for 4.9% of
all accidents.
• Most accidents occurred on straight roads:
o As per the data, 67% of all accidents occurred on straight roads.
o This is over four times the total number of accidents that took place on curved roads, roads with potholes, and roads
having a steep gradient, combined (13.8%).
• ‘Hit From Back’ collisions were most common:
o Most collisions in 2022 were ‘hit from back’.
o These accounted for over 21% of all collisions, followed by ‘head on collisions’ which accounted for 16.9%.
• Most road accidents occurred on a clear day:
o Almost three fourth of all accidents and fatalities took place under ‘sunny/clear’ weather.
o Accidents under adverse weather conditions such as rain, fog and hail accounted for just about 16.6% of total road
accidents during 2022.
• Two-wheelers accounted for the highest number of accidents and deaths:
o A total of 63,115 accidents involving two wheelers took place in 2022. These led to 25,228 deaths.
o Cars and pedestrians saw the next highest number of accidents, at 29,005 (10,174 deaths) and 20,513 (10,160
deaths) respectively.
• Highest fatality rate in Sikkim, lowest in Ladakh, Daman & Diu:
o Sikkim reported the highest fatality rate, standing at 17. UTs Ladakh and Daman & Diu had the lowest fatality rate at
0. The all India rate stood at 5.2.
o Fatality rate is used to explain road accidents relative to vehicular population in a given location, which is measured
by the number of road accident fatalities per 10,000 vehicles.
• Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of accidents:
o Tamil Nadu reported 64,105 total accidents, 15.1% up from the previous year. This accounted for over 13% of total
accidents reported in India.
o At the next spot was Madhya Pradesh, which reported 54,432 accidents

Modi, Hasina to jointly inaugurate Akhaura-Agartala rail link on November 1
• The Prime Minister of India and Bangladesh virtually inaugurated the ‘Akhaura-Agartala rail link’ and ‘Khulna–Mongla Port rail
line’.
About Akhaura-Agartala Rail Link:
• It is a significant cross-border project between India and Bangladesh, that connects Agartala in Tripura and Akhaura in
Bangladesh.
• The project was revived in 2010 and sanctioned in 2012-13, and scheduled to be completed by December 2020 but
was delayed due to land acquisition issues and the Covid-19 pandemic.
• The rail link is 12.24 km long, with a 6.78 km dual gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura.
• Funding: The Project is implemented with complete financial and technical assistance from the Government of India based
on the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) model.
• It is expected to enhance business ties between the two nations and provide direct access between the landlocked
northeastern part of India with the Chittagong port of Bangladesh.
Khulna–Mongla Port Rail Line:

• It is a broad-gauge railway line, aimed to connect the country with Mongla Port.
• The project was part of the first Line of Credit from India with a total project cost of $388.92 million to Bangladesh in 2010.
• Mongla is the second largest port of Bangladesh and the new line will increase the port’s connectivity by linking it to the
existing rail network of Khulna.

• It reduces the travel time between Agartala and Kolkata via Dhaka from 38 hours to roughly 10 hours, and also enables goods
trains to reach the northeastern region via Bangladesh at a much lesser transportation cost.
• It connects Tripura, Mizoram and southern Assam to Kolkata through Bangladesh, to replace the longer route via Guwahati.
• The project will facilitate smooth cargo movement between the Chattogram and Mongla ports in Bangladesh and various
states in India.
• Trade gains: It aims to boost India-Bangladesh trade in agriculture products, tea, sugar, construction items, iron and steel, and
consumer items, as well as people-to-people relationships.

The stance of the Maldives President-elect on India | Explained
• The President-elect of Maldives has emphasised his desire to send Indian troops out of the country.

• Mohamed Muizzu, the President-elect of Maldives, desires an imminent shift in the nation’s geo-political stance, especially
concerning the island’s relationships with China and India, and he has openly committed to removing foreign troops from the
Maldives, primarily from India.
• His stance stems from the main opposition bloc’s ‘India Out’ campaign, mounted against outgoing President Ibrahim
Mohamed Solih, for his foreign policy of ‘India first’.
What are the reasons for ousting Indian military presence?

• Pledge of President-elect and ‘India Out’ Campaign: The President elect pledged to safeguard the independence and
sovereignty of Maldives and ‘India Out’ campaign, mounted against outgoing President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, for his foreign
policy of ‘India first’.
• Public Sentiment: The growing hegemonic practices of India combined with the Indian imperialism and subsequent military in
the Indian ocean has created public resentment against India.
• Pro-China Stance: While Mr. Muizzu maintains that he is ‘Pro-Maldives’ first, and that he will not allow Indian, Chinese, or any
other country’s military presence in the Indian Ocean archipelago, he has on many occasions sought to highlight the benefits
of Chinese assistance to the Maldives, without commenting on Male’s debt obligations, including to China.
• Geopolitical rivalry: Most of the international media framed the Maldives elections as a referendum on India and China. It is
more of a geopolitical rivalry than on any other domestic issue.
Can Maldives handle the military question?

• The Maldives is facing a major economic challenge, as it prepares to pay about $570 million annually in 2024 and 2025 to
service external debt.
• According to the World Bank, Maldives have to service a record $1.07 billion in external debt in 2026.
• It is challenging to mitigate the looming debt crisis without the cooperation of India and China, the Maldives’s main lenders
and development partners.
o Both India and China have given the Maldives hundreds of millions of dollars in the form of loans and grants for
infrastructure and development projects.
Inside India’s ‘Deep Ocean Mission’, a challenge harder than going to space
• For the first time, India will embark on a journey to a depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean using an indigenously developed
submersible under the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM).
Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)

• DOM is implemented by the Ministry Of Earth Sciences (MoES) and was approved in 2021 at a cost of nearly Rs 4,077
crore over a five-year period in a phased manner. The mission has six pillars:
o Development of technologies for deep-sea mining and a manned submersible to carry three people to a depth of
6,000 meters in the ocean;
o Development of ocean climate change advisory services, involving an array of ocean observations and models to
understand and provide future climate projections;
o Technological innovations for the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity;
o Deep-ocean survey and exploration aimed at identifying potential sites of multi-metal hydrothermal sulphides
mineralisation along the Indian Ocean mid-oceanic ridges;
o Harnessing energy and freshwater from the ocean; and
o Establishing an advanced Marine Station for Ocean Biology, as a hub for nurturing talent and driving new
opportunities in ocean biology and blue biotechnology.
Samudrayaan Mission
• As a part of DOM, India’s flagship deep ocean mission, ‘Samudrayaan’, was initiated in 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• With ‘Samudrayaan’, India is embarking on a crewed expedition to reach a depth of 6,000 m to the ocean bed in the central
Indian Ocean. This journey will be accomplished by Matsya6000, a deep-ocean submersible.
Matsya6000
• The Matsya6000 is India’s flagship deep-ocean human submersible that aims to reach the ocean bed at a depth of 6,000 m.
• Accompanied by three crew members, called “aquanauts”, the submersible carries a suite of scientific tools and equipment
designed to facilitate observations, sample collection, basic video and audio recording, and experimentation.
Features of Matsya6000
• Matsya6000 combines the best and most feasible features of remote operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous remote
vehicles (AUVs).
• The interior of Matsya6000 is designed to accommodate three humans travelling within a specialised sphere with a diameter
of 2.1 m.
• Constructed from a titanium alloy, the sphere is engineered to withstand pressures of up to 6,000 bar.
• It can move at a speed of about 5.5 km/hr using underwater thrusters.

• The ‘New India 2030’ document outlines the blue economy as the sixth core objective for India’s growth. The years 2021-2030
have been designated by the United Nations as the ‘Decade of Ocean Science’.
• DOM is one of nine missions under the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PMSTIAC).
• The mission is significant for the sustainable extraction of valuable resources, including polymetallic nodules and
polymetallic sulphides.
What are the Challenges?

• High pressure in the deep oceans: Operating under such high-pressure conditions requires the use of meticulously designed
equipment crafted from durable metals or materials.
• Landing on the ocean bed also presents challenges due to its incredibly soft and muddy surface.
• A large amount of power and energy is required to extract minerals to the surface.
• Poor Visibility poses a significant hurdle as natural light can penetrate only a few tens of meters beneath the surface,
• All these intricate challenges are further compounded by factors like variations in temperature, corrosion, salinity, etc.
What is Bletchley Declaration on AI
• The United Kingdom (U.K.) hosted the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit.

• The UK’s AI Safety Summit, brought together tech experts, world leaders, and representatives from 27 countries and the EU.
• Aim: The summit sought to build a framework to mitigate the risks of AI while maximising its potential.
• It is taking place at Bletchley Park, a renowned location that served as the home to codebreakers during the Second World
War.
• It resulted in the ‘Bletchley Declaration’.
• The next AI Safety Summit will be hosted by South Korea in six months and a second one, six months later by France.
What is Bletchley Declaration?

• Over 27 countries including India and China along with the US, UK and EU, signed the Bletchley Declaration, vowing to develop
AI in a human-centric manner.
• The Bletchley Declaration represents a “world-first” accord, designed to tackle the myriad of safety concerns associated
with advanced AI models, particularly those developed by major entities like OpenAI, Google and Microsoft.

What is AI?
• Artificial intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building smart machines capable of
performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
• Artificial intelligence allows machines to model, or even improve upon, the capabilities of the human mind.
• And from the development of self-driving cars to the proliferation of generative AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, AI is
increasingly becoming part of everyday life — and an area every industry are investing in.
What is the need for the Regulation?

• Lack of transparency of AI tools: AI and deep learning models can be difficult to understand, even for those that work directly
with the technology.
• AI is not neutral: AI-based decisions are susceptible to inaccuracies, discriminatory outcomes, embedded or inserted bias.
• Manipulation through Algorithm: Online media and news have become even murkier in light of AI-generated images and
videos, AI voice changers as well as deep fakes infiltrating political and social spheres.
• Lack of Data Privacy: AI systems often collect personal data to customize user experiences or to help train the AI models.
• Uncontrollable Self AI: There also comes a worry that AI will progress in intelligence so rapidly that it will act beyond humans’
control — possibly in a malicious manner.
New and Updated 22-26 OCTOBER 2023
THE HINDU
NEWS
ANALYSIS




TABLE OF CONTENTS

Article 142 of the Constitution ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Law Commission presents roadmap on ‘One Nation, One Election’ to Ram Nath Kovind-led panel ................... 3
Nipah virus antibodies detected in bats in Wayanad .................................................................................................. 4
GEOGRAPHY, DISASTER MANAGEMENT .............................................................................................................................. 5
Sikkim Flood & Dam Safety Act ...................................................................................................................................... 5
GEOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5
First post-monsoon cyclone of 2023 brewing over Arabian Sea............................................................................... 5
World Energy Outlook-2023 Report ............................................................................................................................... 6
International Solar Alliance to release report on global adoption of solar technology in November .................. 7
ECONOMY NEWS .................................................................................................................................................................... 8
PPF returns 41 bps behind formula rates ..................................................................................................................... 8
AGRICULTURE NEWS .............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Cabinet approves ₹22,303 cr subsidy on P&K fertilisers for Rabi crop season ...................................................... 8
To curb evasion, EU report calls for 2% global wealth tax on billionaires ................................................................ 9
BILATERAL / INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ........................................................................................................................ 10
Canada’s actions are in violation of Vienna Convention, says Jaishankar ............................................................ 10
Sri Lanka approves free tourist visas for visitors from India, six other countries ................................................. 10
Manila, Beijing trade blame over collisions in disputed sea .................................................................................... 11
Fluorescence: making animals glow ........................................................................................................................... 11
Centre to roll out DNA, face matching systems at police stations across India ................................................... 12
How do SIM cards work?............................................................................................................................................... 13
Article 142 of the Constitution
• The Supreme Court has used its extraordinary power under Article 142 of the Constitution to do complete justice for a
man who fought against the postal department’s refusal to give him a job despite his name figuring high on the merit list.
• The court held that while no one had any legal right to claim public employment, once the name of a person is in the merit
list, he has limited right to be accorded fair and non-discriminatory treatment.
• It held that a public employer, which is a ‘state’ within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution, would have no authority
to act in an arbitrary manner.
• Article 12: State includes the Government and Parliament of India and the Government and the Legislature of each of the
States and all local or other authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India.

Article 142 of the Constitution
• Article 142 provides a unique power to the Supreme Court, to do “complete justice” between the parties, where, at times, the
law or statute may not provide a remedy.
• In those situations, the Court can extend itself to put an end to a dispute in a manner that would fit the facts of the case.

Law Commission presents roadmap on ‘One Nation, One Election’ to Ram Nath Kovind-led panel
• The Law Commission of India presented a roadmap to a panel on simultaneous polls ‘One Nation, One Election’ led by former
President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
• The Law Commission of India made a presentation to the ‘high-level committee’ headed by former President Ram Nath
Kovind on its ‘suggestions and viewpoints’ regarding simultaneous elections, and working on a formula to synchronise all
assembly polls by extending or reducing the tenure so that these elections can be held along with the Lok Sabha polls 2029
onwards.
o The committee has been asked to ‘examine and make recommendations for holding simultaneous elections to the Lok
Sabha, State assemblies, municipalities, and panchayats, keeping in view the existing framework under the Constitution
of India and other statutory provisions’.
• The law panel is devising a mechanism to ensure a common electoral roll for Lok Sabha, assemblies and local bodies to
reduce cost and use of manpower for undertaking an almost identical exercise which is carried out now by the Election
Commission and various state election commissions.

‘One Nation One Election’ System:
• It proposes that simultaneous elections be held in all states and the Lok Sabha in a gap of five years.
o It involves the restructuring of the Indian election cycle in a manner that elections to the states and the centre
synchronise.
• The current electoral system holds separate polls for the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies in a gap of five years, i.e. when the
tenure of the Lower House or the state government concludes, or either of them is dissolved prematurely.
Previous instances of simultaneous elections:
• It is not a newly conceived norm, in fact, it was previously conducted in India in 1952, 1957, 1962 and 1967, and was
discontinued following the dissolution of some Legislative Assemblies between 1968 -69. Since then, the Indian Electoral
system holds polls to Centre and states separately.
Arguments in favour of One Nation One Election: Arguments against of One Nation One Election
• Feasibility and issue of dissolution: Article 83(2) and 172 of the
Constitution of India stipulates that the tenure of Lok Sabha and State
Assemblies respectively will last for five years unless dissolved earlier and
there can be circumstances, as in Article 356, wherein assemblies can be
dissolved earlier.
• Government efforts & financial resources;
• Policy paralysis because of the ‘model code
• Hamper federalism: Each of India’s States has different political cultures
and parties. Furthermore, this is an attack on and an affront to India’s
of conduct’;
federalism.
• Pressure on parties in power;
• Logistical and Infrastructural Challenges: By increasing the costs for
• Engagement of security forces in election
deploying far larger numbers of electronic voting machines and control
processes undermine internal security
units.
purposes;
o The Election Commission of India felt that side-by-side polls
• Hampering essential services would demand massive investment in Electronic Voting Machines
and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.
• Against the diversity of India: Simultaneous elections will hamper the
regional and cultural diversities.
Has any other country with a federal structure tried this?

• Similar electoral arrangements are in place in South Africa, Sweden and the tenure of Parliament in the UK is determined by
the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, 2011.
• In South Africa, national as well as provincial legislature elections are held simultaneously for five years.
• Sweden has a fixed date for holding polls to the ‘Riksdag’, the national legislature, ‘Landsting’, the provincial legislature/county
council, and ‘Kommunfullmaktige’, the local bodies/municipal assemblies. They have a common term of four years.

Nipah virus antibodies detected in bats in Wayanad
• Recently, The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) confirmed the presence of the deadly Nipah virus (NiV) in fruit bat
samples collected in Wayanad region.
About Nipah virus (NiV)

• Nature: It is a zoonotic virus (it is transmitted from animals to humans).
• Origin: It was first identified in 1998 during an outbreak in Malaysia, which affected both pigs and humans. It was named after
the village of Sungai Nipah in Malaysia.
• Natural host: Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family, specifically the Pteropus genus are considered as host for Nipah virus.
• Transmission: It is transmitted to humans through direct contact with infected bats, contaminated fruit or through close
contact with infected animals, particularly pigs along with human-to-human transmission.
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, dizziness, cough, and respiratory distress leading to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain),
seizures, and coma.
How fast does the Nipah virus spread?

• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nipah has a relatively high case fatality ratio. The very high death rates
contribute to low transmission.
• Reproductive number (R0): It is a measure of how quickly the virus spreads in the population. The reproductive number (R0) in
the previous outbreaks of Nipah virus was about 0.48.
• A value less than one means less than one person is being infected by an already infected person. In such a scenario, the
outbreak is expected to diminish relatively quickly.
GEOGRAPHY, DISASTER MANAGEMENT
Sikkim Flood & Dam Safety Act
• The devastating floods in Sikkim, triggered by a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) and compounded by the collapse of a
hydropower dam, have raised significant concerns about the impact of such events on existing and proposed hydel power
projects in the region.
• This situation has prompted calls for a reevaluation of these projects and their environmental and safety implications.
What are the Concerns?

• GLOF Triggered Flooding: The recent floods in Sikkim resulted from a GLOF, which occurs when a glacier-fed lake experiences
a sudden release of water. In this case, satellite images suggest that an ice chunk falling into the lake led to a moraine dam
breach, causing flash floods downstream in the Teesta River.
• Collapse of Chungthang Dam: The Chungthang Dam, part of the 1,200 MW Teesta Stage III hydro power project, collapsed,
adding to the destruction. The Chief Minister of Sikkim highlighted discrepancies in the dam’s construction compared to what
was approved by the Central Water Commission. This incident has halted electricity generation in the area.
• Impact on Hydel Projects: The floods have had a significant impact on all operational hydel power projects on the Teesta
River in Sikkim. Electricity generation from these projects has come to a halt, leading to financial losses for the National Hydel
Power Corporation (NHPC) and other stakeholders.
• Calls for Rethink: Activists and scientists are urging a reconsideration of proposed hydel power projects, particularly in the
wake of GLOF-triggered floods and their devastating consequences. Concerns are raised about the safety and environmental
implications of these projects.
• Safety Concerns: The discrepancies in the construction of the Chungthang Dam and its subsequent collapse raise questions
about the safety and integrity of hydropower projects. This has prompted calls for stringent safety measures and thorough
project assessments.
• Energy Dependency: India’s reliance on hydropower remains significant, as highlighted by the Union Minister for Power and
Renewable Energy. Balancing energy needs with environmental and safety considerations is a crucial challenge.
• Need for Scrutiny: The demands for a reevaluation of proposed projects and inquiries into existing ones underscore the
importance of transparent and accountable decision-making in the energy sector.

• Project Review: Comprehensive reviews of existing and proposed hydel power projects, considering safety, environmental,
and geological factors, are essential. These reviews should involve experts and stakeholders to ensure informed decisions.
• Environmental Assessment: Rigorous environmental impact assessments should be carried out for all projects in ecologically
sensitive areas. These assessments should consider potential risks and long-term consequences.
• Safety Measures: Strict adherence to safety standards and continuous monitoring of infrastructure is crucial to mitigate risks
associated with hydropower projects.
• Balanced Energy Policy: Policymakers should strike a balance between energy generation and environmental protection.
Sustainable and clean energy solutions should be explored and prioritized.
GEOGRAPHY
First post-monsoon cyclone of 2023 brewing over Arabian Sea
• The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted that Cyclone Tej, a depression gathering force in the Arabian Sea,
intensified into an ‘extremely severe cyclonic storm’ near the coasts of Oman and Yemen.
• It developed from a low-pressure area in the southeast Arabian Sea and intensified into a depression.
• Currently, it is moving west-northwest towards Maharashtra’s coast.
• Cyclone Tej may bring heavy rainfall, strong winds, storm surges, and coastal flooding to the affected areas.
Increase in Frequency of Arabian Sea Cyclones:
• Changing Ocean and Atmosphere Patterns: Alterations in ocean and atmosphere warming patterns are causing more
frequent and severe tropical cyclones in the Eastern Arabian Sea, near India’s west coast.
• Indian Ocean Dipole’s Role: The positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), akin to the Indian Nino, results in warmer sea
surface temperatures and increased rainfall in the western Indian Ocean region.
• Human-Induced Impact: The recent surge in extremely severe post-monsoon cyclonic storms in the Arabian Sea is attributed
to anthropogenic factors, marking a shift away from natural variability. Human-induced climate change is amplifying the
frequency and intensity of cyclones in the Arabian Sea.

What are Cyclones?
• A cyclone is any low-pressure area with winds spiraling inwards and is caused by atmospheric disturbances around a low-
pressure area distinguished by swift and often destructive air circulation.
• The air circulates inward in an anticlockwise direction in the Northern hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern hemisphere.
• The center of a cyclone is a calm area. It is called the eye of the storm. The diameter of the eye varies from 10 to 30 km. It is a
region free of clouds and has light winds.
• Around this calm and clear eye, there is a cloud region of about 150 km in size. In this region, there are high-speed
winds (150–250 km/h) and thick clouds with heavy rain. Away from this region the wind speed gradually decreases.
• A large cyclone is a violently rotating air mass in the atmosphere, 10 to 15 km high.
• A cyclone is known by different names in different parts of the world as:
Name Region
Hurricane American continent.
Typhoon Philippines and Japan
Willy-Willy Australia
Cyclone Indian Subcontinent
Formation of Cyclones
• Before cloud formation, water takes up heat from the atmosphere to change into vapour. When water vapour changes back to
liquid form as raindrops, this heat is released to the atmosphere.
• The heat released to the atmosphere warms the air around. The air tends to rise and causes a drop in pressure. More air
rushes to the center of the storm. This cycle is repeated.
• The chain of events ends with the formation of a very low-pressure system with very high-speed winds revolving around it. It
is this weather condition that is called a cyclone.
• Factors like wind speed, wind direction, temperature and humidity contribute to the development of cyclones.
• The conditions which favour the formation and intensification of tropical cyclone storms are:
o Sea surface with a temperature higher than 27° C,
o Coriolis force,
o Small differences in the vertical wind speed,
o Weak- low-pressure area.

World Energy Outlook-2023 Report
• The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its World Energy Outlook 2023.
• Fossil fuel share in the global energy supply is projected to reduce from around 80% to 73% by 2030. Global energy-related
carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions peaking by 2025.
• India will record the highest growth in demand for energy among countries or regions over the next three decades.
• Power consumption for running household air conditioners alone is estimated to rise nine-fold by 2050.
• By 2030, India’s industry will emit 30% less CO2 (carbon dioxide), and each km driven on Indian roads by a passenger car will
emit 25% less CO2.
• As part of its energy development, India is entering a dynamic new phase marked by a long-term net zero emissions ambition,
increased regulatory sophistication, a focus on clean energy deployment, and the establishment of domestic clean energy
technology supply chains.

• Clean Energy Transition such as encouraging a transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, such as
renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro), to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
• Increase investments in renewable energy infrastructure, including solar and wind power projects, to meet growing energy
demand and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
• Promoting electrification of the transportation sector, including the development of electric vehicles (EVs) and the necessary
charging infrastructure.
• Implementation of carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems, to incentivize emissions
reduction efforts.
• Engaging in international partnerships and collaborations to access technology, expertise, and financing for sustainable
energy projects.
• Implementing measures to address air pollution, including stricter emissions standards for vehicles and industries, to
improve public health and reduce environmental damage.

Initiatives taken by India to reduce carbon emissions
• International Solar Alliance (ISA): Launched in 2015, it’s an alliance of the “sunshine countries” with an objective of efficient
utilization of solar energy.
• One sun, one world, one grid project along with the United Kingdom: It is based on the vision of building and scaling inter-
regional energy grids to share solar energy across the globe.
• Accelerating e-mobility transition with the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles Scheme.
• Mission LiFE is a global mass movement led by India that aims to encourage individual and collective action to protect and
preserve the environment.
• Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT): It is a business-led initiative that encourages companies to adopt low-
carbon business practices and technologies.

International Solar Alliance to release report on global adoption of solar technology in November
• The International Solar Alliance (ISA), for the first time, will compile and release a ‘global solar stock-take report.’
• This move is inspired by the first ever ‘Global Stocktake’ of the United Nations Conference of Parties, scheduled in Dubai
later this year.
• The ‘solar stocktake’ would be released in November, 2023 and would take stock of the progress made by countries.
• In 2020, nearly $300 billion of investment in solar took place and around $380 billion in 2022. However, manufacturing is
uneven with most of it concentrated in China. The stocktake will look at ways to broaden this.

International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• Launched: At COP21 (2015), the UN climate meeting in Paris.
• Headquarters: India, with its Interim Secretariat being set up in Gurugram.
• Members:
o It has 122 sun-belt countries as its prospective member countries and currently boasts a membership of 86 countries
globally.
o It is the largest grouping of states, after the United Nations.
• Vision: Let us together make the sun brighter.
• Mission: Every home no matter how far away, will have a light at home.
ECONOMY NEWS
PPF returns 41 bps behind formula rates

The government raised the interest rate on the five-year recurring deposit scheme for the December quarter and retained the rates for
all other small savings schemes.
The government reviews the rate every quarter.
About Small Savings Instruments (SSIs)

• They are a set of savings instruments managed by the central government with an aim to encourage citizens to
save regularly irrespective of their age.
• It comprises instruments, including the National Saving Certificate (NSC), Public Provident Fund (PPF), Kisan Vikas Patra
(KVP) and Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme.
• The money raised from people who save through these schemes goes to the Centre and is put into a fund called the National
Small Savings Fund (NSSF).
• The government resets the interest rate at the beginning of every quarter.
o Theoretically, since 2016, interest rate re-setting has been based on yields of government securities of the
corresponding maturity, with some spread on the scheme for senior citizens, as advised by the Shyamala Gopinath
Committee.
Latest Developments
• National Savings (Monthly Income Account) Scheme, 2019 has been amended through National Savings (Monthly Income
Account) (Amendment) Scheme, 2023 and the maximum investment limit has been raised from ₹ four lakh fifty thousand to ₹
nine lakh for a single account and from ₹ nine lakh to ₹ 15 lakh for a joint account with effect from 1st April 2023.
• Likewise, the Senior Citizen Savings Scheme, 2019 has been amended through Senior Citizens Savings (Amendment)
Scheme, 2023 and the maximum investment limit has been raised from ₹ 15 lakh to ₹ 30 lakh .
AGRICULTURE NEWS
Cabinet approves ₹22,303 cr subsidy on P&K fertilisers for Rabi crop season
• Cabinet approves ₹22,303 crore subsidy on phosphorus, potash fertilisers for Rabi season to ensure farmers continue to get
soil nutrients at reasonable rates despite high global prices.
About NBS Scheme

• It governs the subsidy on P&K fertilisers, and has been instrumental in ensuring the availability of essential nutrients to
farmers at subsidised prices since 1 April 2010.
• Fertilisers available to farmers at subsidised prices through fertiliser manufacturers or importers (not to the farmers) as per
approved and notified rates.
• NBS is applicable for Diammonium Phosphate, Muriate of Potash, Mono Ammonium Phosphate, Triple Super Phosphate, Single
Super Phosphate, Ammonium Sulphate and 16 grades of complex fertilisers.
What are the Rabi crops?

• These are sown in winter and harvested in spring. These include wheat, barley, mustard, chana (gram), masoor (lentil), peas,
potato, tomato, beet, cabbage, garlic, onion, cumin, coriander, linseed, sunflower, and cauliflower etc.
Benefits of giving fertilizer Subsidy Negative effects of fertilizer Subsidy
• Overuse of fertilisers: Their imbalanced use of fertilisers can lead to soil

degradation.
• Delay in paying subsidy dues: There is a huge carryover of subsidy
liabilities every year due to the non-payment of subsidy bills received from
companies.
• Availability of Fertilisers: It will ensure P&K
o Scarcity of funds due to an inadequate budget allocation is the
fertilisers are available to farmers at
major reason for the delay in settlement.
affordable prices during the ongoing Rabi
season.
• Expenditure on subsidy: Over the years, the government’s expenditure on
fertiliser subsidy has been increasing.
• Growth of agricultural productivity: Fertiliser
o However, it is necessary to keep providing the subsidy, it is also
subsidy resulted in a tremendous growth of
the government’s responsibility to contain this expenditure by
agricultural productivity, which was necessary
adopting innovative ways without increasing the prices.
for food security of the huge population of the
country.
• Issue of diversion: About 10 lakh tonnes of agriculture-grade
subsidised urea is getting diverted every year mainly to
• Effective and efficient use of government
industries causing a subsidy leakage.
resources: It rationalises the subsidy on P&K
fertilisers, ensuring effective and efficient use
• Low efficiency of Fertiliser companies: Fertiliser companies are operating
with very old technology and systems, and not at their highest efficiency.
of government resources.
The government bears the cost of their inefficiency in the form of higher
subsidy.
• Role of international trade: India, the top importer of the crop nutrient,
currently meets 30% of its demand for urea through imports from
countries such as Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

To curb evasion, EU report calls for 2% global wealth tax on billionaires
• The European Union Tax Observatory in its ‘Global Tax Evasion Report 2024’ calls for 2% global wealth tax on billionaires.
• The automatic exchange of bank information in reducing offshore tax evasion by a factor of three over the past 10 years.
• Very low effective tax rates: Report shows that global billionaires have very low personal effective tax rates of between 0%
and 0.5% of their wealth.
• A persistently large amount of profit, nearly $1 trillion, is shifted to tax havens in 2022, which is equivalent to 35% of all the
profits booked by multinational companies outside of their headquarter country.
o The global loss of tax revenue due to this shifting appears to have stagnated at about 10% of corporate tax revenue
collected.
• The global minimum tax has been dramatically weakened.
o In 2021, more than 140 countries and territories agreed to implement a pioneering minimum tax of 15% on
multinational profits, which was expected to increase global tax revenues by 10%.
o The report red-flagged the trend of ‘greenwashing the global minimum tax’ wherein MNCs can use ‘green’ tax credits
for low carbon transition to reduce their tax rates way below the minimum of 15%.
• New forms of aggressive tax competition are emerging with adverse effects on government revenue and inequality.
• The ongoing subsidies race for green-energy producers may more than offset the revenue gains from the global minimum
corporate tax.
The report makes recommendations to reconcile globalisation with tax justice with a common theme of focusing on reducing the tax
deficit of multinational companies and wealthy individuals. These include:
• Reform the international agreement on minimum corporate taxation to implement a rate of 25% and remove the loophole in it
that fosters tax competition.
• Introduce a new global minimum tax for the world’s billionaires equal to 2% of their wealth.
• Institute mechanisms to tax wealthy people who have been long-term residents in a country and choose to move to a low-tax
country.
• Implement unilateral measures to collect some of the tax deficits of multinational companies and billionaires in case global
agreements on these issues fail.
• Move towards the creation of a Global Asset Registry to better fight tax evasion.
• Strengthen the application of economic substance and anti-abuse rules.

Canada’s actions are in violation of Vienna Convention, says Jaishankar
• Recently, India asserted that it did not violate diplomatic norms as enshrined in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic
Relations, while dealing with Canada.
• According to Canada’s Foreign Minister, unilateral revocation of diplomatic privileges and immunities is contrary to
international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
• However, India claims that reduction in the number of Canadian diplomats in India in fact did not impact the staff requirement
in the Canadian consulates, and it does not violate the Vienna Convention.

Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
• The Convention was adopted in 1961, is a foundational document of modern diplomacy. It updated and codified diplomatic
practices that had evolved over centuries.
• It is a comprehensive treaty that covers various aspects of diplomatic relations, including the establishment of diplomatic
missions, the status and privileges of diplomatic agents, and the termination of diplomatic relations.
• It has been ratified by 193 countries, making it one of the most widely accepted international treaties.
• The convention says that persons working as diplomats are “inviolable” and can therefore not be arrested or detained.
• Host nations hold the responsibility to protect diplomats from attacks on their freedom and dignity.
• The treaty says that foreign envoys cannot be prosecuted or punished by the host country for actions carried out in the line of
duty.
• It also gives host countries the right to expel envoys.

Sri Lanka approves free tourist visas for visitors from India, six other countries
• Sri Lanka has approved a policy to issue free tourist Visas to travelers from India and six other countries.
• Sri Lanka will issue free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia and Thailand with immediate effect as a
pilot project till 31 March, 2024.
• The move comes as a part of Sri Lanka’s efforts to boost tourist arrivals and help rebuild its economy.
o Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is struggling to bounce back after the Easter Sunday terror attacks in 2019, the Covid
pandemic in 2020 and 2021, and the unprecedented economic crisis in 2022.
o Prior to the pandemic, tourism was the third-largest source of foreign exchange inflows to Sri Lanka, accounting for
about five percent of the country’s GDP.
Manila, Beijing trade blame over collisions in disputed sea
• Tensions have escalated between China and the Philippines recently over the South China Sea.
• The Philippines has accused Chinese coast guard vessels of “intentionally” colliding with its vessels on a resupply mission in a
disputed part of the South China Sea.
About South China Sea Dispute

• “Four Sha” (Four Sands archipelagos) are the four island groups in the SCS region over which China claims it has “historical
rights”, named Dongsha Qundao, Xisha Qundao, Zhongsha Qundao and Nansha Qundao.
• Internationally they are known as Pratas Islands, Paracel Islands, the Macclesfield Bank area and the Spratly Islands.
• China stakes claim to 90% of the South China Sea, and this claim is based on the U-shaped nine-dash line etched on the map
in the 1940s by a Chinese geographer.
• The Nine-dash line has a Geopolitical significance.

South China Sea
• It is an arm of the western Pacific Ocean that borders the Southeast Asian mainland.
• It is bounded on the northeast by the Taiwan Strait (by which it is connected to the East China Sea); on the east by Taiwan and
the Philippines; on the southeast and south by Borneo, the southern limit of the Gulf of Thailand, and the east coast of the
Malay Peninsula; and on the west and north by the Asian mainland.
• Importance: Connecting link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean (Strait of Malacca).
• One-third of the maritime trade passes through this, also have strategic importance.
What are the Concerns for India?

• Freedom of Navigation: India’s trade routes pass through the South China Sea, making freedom of navigation a priority.
• Economic Interests: India has economic interests in the region’s resources and fisheries.
• Maritime Security: Escalation could impact regional maritime security.
• Regional Stability: Tensions can affect the broader Indo-Pacific region.
• Strategic Partnerships: India’s alliances with affected nations make it invested in the issue.
• Rule of Law: India supports resolving disputes based on international law.
• Geopolitical Balance: The dispute is part of global geopolitical competition.
• Act East Policy: South China Sea is a part of India’s regional engagement strategy.
• Bilateral Relationships: India has partnerships with nations involved in the dispute.

Fluorescence: making animals glow
• A recent study reported that the bodies of animals belonging to all the known mammalian orders fluoresce in some way.
Fluorescence
• When an object absorbs some light of higher energy (like blue colour) and releases it at lower energy (like red colour).
• It usually happens when an electron absorbs a photon, or a particle of light, jumps to a higher energy level, before releasing
that energy and jumping back down.
• In this process, the electron’s spin must not change. If its spin changes, the process is called phosphorescence.
Applications of Fluorescence
• Biomedical Imaging: Fluorescence is widely used in medical diagnostics, such as fluorescence microscopy, which helps in the
study of cellular and tissue structures. It’s crucial for disease detection and research.
• Environmental Monitoring: Fluorescent markers are employed in environmental studies to track pollutants, monitor water
quality, and detect contaminants, which is crucial for environmental protection.
• Forensic Science: Fluorescence plays a role in forensics, where it can be used to detect trace evidence, such as bloodstains or
fingerprints, aiding in criminal investigations.
• Pharmaceuticals and Drug Development: Fluorescence is vital in drug discovery and development, helping researchers study
the binding of drugs to target molecules and monitor biochemical reactions.
• Material Science: In material science, fluorescence is used to analyze the properties and behaviors of various materials,
facilitating the development of advanced materials.
• Chemical Analysis: Fluorescence spectroscopy is used in chemical analysis to detect and quantify various compounds,
making it invaluable in analytical chemistry.
• Astronomy and Space Exploration: Fluorescence can be applied in the study of celestial objects and extraterrestrial
environments, providing insights into the composition and conditions of distant objects in space.

Centre to roll out DNA, face matching systems at police stations across India
More than a year after the Criminal Procedure Identification Act was passed by Parliament, the Centre is all set to roll out “DNA and
face matching” systems at 1,300 police stations across the country.
Criminal Procedure Identification Act 2023:

In April 2022, the Indian Parliament passed the Criminal Procedure Identification Act (CrPI), granting police and Central investigating
agencies the authority to collect, store, and analyze physical and biological samples, including retina and iris scans of arrested
individuals.
Integration with NAFIS

The National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), managed by the NCRB, has been integrated into the CrPI Act’s
implementation. NAFIS includes fingerprint data for over 1 crore people, including accused and convicts, and is available at around
1,300 police stations across the country.
Facial recognition system

• A facial recognition system, which is often used to verify individuals through ID verification services, works by identifying and
measuring facial features from a given image. It may match a human face from a digital image or a video frame against a
database of faces.
• The purpose of facial recognition software is to help increase safety and security in various situations. The police in India
are using it more frequently for identifying purposes and in criminal investigations.
• A few examples were the police departments of India using facial recognition technology systems are:
• TSCOP and Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) in Telangana, Punjab Artificial Intelligence
System (PAIS) in Punjab, Trinetra in Uttar Pradesh, Police Artificial Intelligence System in Uttarakhand, Automated Facial
Recognition System (AFRS) in Delhi, and Automated Multimodal Biometric Identification System (AMBIS).
• The Delhi police used a facial recognition system for over 100 of the 1,818 arrests they made during the riots against the
Citizen Amendment Act in December 2019. Thousands of Indian citizens came out to protest this new law that is believed to be
discriminatory towards Muslims and other marginalized communities.
• In another situation, the police used facial recognition technology along with CCTV footage to arrest over 200 protesters who
were protesting an agriculture reform that favored corporations over farmers at Delhi’s Red Fort.
What are the advantages of using technology in law enforcement in India?

• Technology helps in increasing the productivity and efficiency of Law Enforcement Agencies. A strong partnership between
police and technology would facilitate quick criminal investigations, greatly reduce crime, and help to uphold law and order.
• Technological assistance helps the police to reduce the burden of daily manual tasks.
• Big Data can be quite useful in identifying crime trends and hotspots. The smartphone apps are connected to centralized
databases and give the investigating officer real-time access to data on missing individuals, vehicles, bodies, and criminal
histories very quickly.
• Reduce Malpractices: The use of technology like body-worn cameras will reduce the scope of malpractices by the officers on
duty.
• Technology helps in bridging the gap between the public and the police. The digital services provided by police may help
the public to make use of these services from the comfort of their house. For example, in Punjab Police’s SAANJH, people
can submit their concerns online using the State public grievance redressal portal for the state police. The main goal of this
portal is to allow citizens to file complaints online, track their progress, and receive reports in a timely manner while sitting at
home.
What are the challenges of using technology in law enforcement in India?

• The lack of proper data security legislation may result in data breaches and the subsequent use of this data for terrorism
and other illegal acts.
• The unequal distribution of infrastructure across India’s rural and urban environments makes widespread adoption of
technology difficult. Remote places might not have adequate internet penetration to access the technology made available to
the public by law enforcement authorities.
• The failure of present police reforms to teach the effects of technology and incorporate it into crime investigation.
• Budget constraints are a problem at many police stations around the nation, making the deployment of new equipment
financially impractical.
• Due to a lack of adequate training and access to this technology, the Indian law enforcement authorities are unable to
keep up with the rapid developments in technology, which has resulted in a large technological gap.
• Many agencies lack the necessary mobile or software tools to enhance interagency collaboration or maintain officers in the
community.

How do SIM cards work?
• Manufacturing giants like the Apple iPhones, Google Pixel series and Samsung have enabled the eSIM facility on their devices.
What is a SIM card?

• SIM stands for ‘subscriber identification module’. It is an integrated circuit, or a microchip, that identifies the subscriber on a
given network.
• SIM cards store information about its own ID number (the integrated circuit card identifier), the international mobile
subscriber identity (IMSI), the subscriber’s location area identity (i.e. their current location), a list of preferred networks (to
whom the subscriber can connect when roaming), emergency numbers, and – depending on the space available – the
subscriber’s contacts and SMS messages.
How does a SIM card work?

• Working: When a subscriber dials a recipient’s number, the phone sends data via the network – signed by the key on the SIM
card – to a telephone exchange. If the recipient is connected to the same exchange, the network establishes their identity and
the call is routed to them. If the recipient is ‘located’ elsewhere, a computer connected to the network routes the call there
according to the most optimum route.
What is an eSIM?
• An eSIM is a digital embedded, programmable and rewritable SIM. It can use a cellular plan of your network carrier without
requiring the need of a physical nano-SIM.
• In the eSIM paradigm, the SIM software is loaded to a universal integrated circuit card (UICC) that is permanently installed
in the mobile equipment in the factory itself, i.e. it can’t be removed.
Advantages of eSIMs
• Convenience: The ability to store multiple SIM profiles in eSIM means a person can switch between profiles easily, without the
need of activating a SIM repeatedly or physically switching cards repeatedly.
• Security: If a malicious person gains access to someone’s phone, they won’t be able to separately access the SIM application
nor be able to duplicate it.
Disadvantages of eSIMs
• Emergencies: If a phone stops working or runs out of battery, the communication is brought to a complete standstill with
eSIMs.
• Data protection: An eSIM can in theory allow network operators to track subscribers data, including inside apps on the device
and especially in the absence of data privacy laws.

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