1. FEDIVERSE
TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: Threads will be the Meta’s first app to join the fediverse, which acts as a network of servers operated by third parties.
EXPLANATION:
- Meta, the parent company for Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, recently launched its Twitter rival Threads, which is currently available as a standalone app but can only be used through an Instagram account.
- While Meta’s move to join the fediverse may have brought the network some coverage, the social network firm is yet to reveal how it plans to use the fediverse to build a decentralised social network.
What is the fediverse?
- The fediverse is a group of federated social networking services that work on decentralised networks operated using open-source standards. It is a network of servers run by third parties.
- Meta described the fediverse as “a social network of different servers operated by third parties that are connected and can communicate with each other”.
- These servers are not controlled by any one entity and can be used by any member of social media platforms to facilitate communication between their users.
- It enables cross-platform communication while making it easier for users of one social media platform to communicate with users of a different platform if they are of the diverse.
- Users of social media platforms which use the fediverse can communicate seamlessly with each other without the need to create or maintain separate accounts for each platform.
- For example, once Threads becomes part of the fediverse, users on the platform will be able to communicate and interact with users of other social media platforms which use the fediverse, like Mastodon, without making a new account on it.
Why do social media platforms use the fediverse?
- One of the main reasons for social media platforms to use the fediverse is to tap into its decentralised nature. This allows users more control over the content they want to view and the accounts they want to interact with, along with the ability to enable cross-platform communications.
- The fediverse also separates the user interface from the underlying data, which means that users are not bound by the servers of the social media platform which hosts their online data and can freely transport their data to another platform.
- Additionally, if the servers for an existing platform go down, users of platforms on the fediverse can retain and shift their data to another platform that is part of it.
Challenges:
- The lack of a centralised network leads to the problem of scalability since decentralised servers might not be able to handle large amounts of traffic. Also, with the expansion of the number of servers, the propensity for failure and glitches could increase.
- Another problem is content moderation, as it would be difficult to decide content-moderation policies and their effective implementation due to the decentralised nature of the fediverse.
- Traditional social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and X have unifying content moderation policies that prevent hate speech. It will be difficult to impose these policies universally across servers in the fediverse.
- Similarly, due to the lack of a decentralised network, enforcement of data privacy policies will also be difficult as data, once posted on a server, might not be deleted due to the lack of data deletion policies on other servers.
Is the fediverse a new idea?
- The idea of a diverse has been around for decades. In the past, companies like Google have tried to embrace the idea of a decentralised network.
- In 2008, Evan Prodromu founded the microblogging platform Identi.ca, which used a protocol used in the fediverse. In 2016, Mastodon and Pleroma, both of which are part of the ,diverse emerged as two notable social media networks.
- In 2018, the W3 (Worldwide Web Consortium) created the ActivityPub protocol, which is currently one of the more commonly used protocols used by applications on the fediverse.
2. PRIVILEGE MOTION
TAG: GS 2: POLITY
THE CONTEXT: Rajya Sabha Chairman has referred complaints against a few members to the Privileges Committee. This comes amid differences between the ruling party and some opposition parties that have plagued the ongoing Monsoon Session of its sittings.
EXPLANATION:
- The opposition complaints were primarily about asking Prime Minister Modi to make an appearance in the Parliament to speak about the ethnic violence that has taken place in Manipur.
- On consideration of the facts, the Chairman of Rajya Sabha has referred the matter under Rule 203 of Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha to the Committee of Privileges for examination, investigation and report.
- Under this rule, the Chairman can refer any question of privilege to the Committee of Privileges for examination and investigation.
What is a privilege motion?
- The two rules referred to here relate to the concept of parliamentary privilege, which are certain rights conferred to the Members of Parliament for conducting the business of the Parliament.
- There is no codified list of the exact privileges, but it includes the right of free expression in the course of Parliamentary debates, and Members of Parliament will not be liable for court proceedings for this.
- If there is a belief that such a privilege has been breached, a motion can be raised by any member. It can be admitted by the Chairman. They can then refer it to the Privileges Committee.
- The Chairman can, from time to time, nominate such a Committee consisting of ten members. It will also have a Chairman appointed by the Rajya Sabha Chairman.
- The right to raise a question of privilege is based on satisfying two conditions, namely: (i) the question shall be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence, and (ii) the matter requires the intervention of the Council.
- Similar provisions exist in Lok Sabha, with the Speaker having the power to make such decisions.
- The Speaker/RS chairperson is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion. Therefore, the Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.
What action can the privileges committee take?
- The mandate of the committee is to examine such cases and “make such recommendations as it may deem fit”. It can call the relevant people as part of its examination and look at related documents.
- It has to then make a report, and if the Council has not fixed any time for its presentation, the report shall be presented within one month of the date on which reference to the Committee was made.
- The right to raise a question of privilege is based on satisfying two conditions, namely: (i) the question shall be restricted to a specific matter of recent occurrence, and (ii) the matter requires the intervention of the Council.
- Similar provisions exist in Lok Sabha, with the Speaker having the power to make such decisions. The Speaker/RS chairperson is the first level of scrutiny of a privilege motion.
- Therefore, the Speaker/Chair can decide on the privilege motion himself or herself or refer it to the privileges committee of Parliament.
3. THE INTER-SERVICES ORGANISATION (COMMAND, CONTROL & DISCIPLINE) BILL, 2023
TAG: GS 2: POLITY
THE CONTEXT: The Lok Sabha has passed the Inter-Services Organisation (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill – 2023.
EXPLANATION:
- Introducing the Bill in the Lok Sabha is termed as part of a series of military reforms being undertaken by the Government with the aim of empowering the nation.
- The ‘ISO Bill – 2023’ shall be applicable to all personnel of regular Army, Navy, and Air Force, and to persons of other forces, as notified by the Central Government, who are serving in or attached to an Inter-Services Organisation.
- The bill seeks to empower the Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel serving in or attached to such organisations.
- Currently, the Armed Forces personnel are governed in accordance with the provisions contained in their specific Service Acts – Army Act 1950, Navy Act 1957 and Air Force Act 1950.
- The enactment of the Bill will have various tangible benefits, such as
- Maintenance of effective discipline in inter-service establishments by the Heads of ISOs
- No requirement of reverting personnel under disciplinary proceedings to their parent Service units
- Expeditious disposal of cases of misdemeanour or indiscipline
- Saving of public money & time by avoiding multiple proceedings.
- The Bill would also pave the way for much greater integration and jointness amongst the three Services and lay a strong foundation for creation of Joint Structures in times to come and further improve the functioning of the Armed Forces.
- It is essentially an Enabling Act, and it does not propose any change in the existing Service Acts/Rules/Regulations, which are time-tested and have withstood judicial scrutiny over the last six decades or more.
- To maintain Command and Control in the absence of the Commander-in-Chief or the Officer-in-Command, the officiating incumbent or the officer will also be empowered to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the service personnel.
- The Bill also empowers the Commanding Officer of an Inter-Services organisation to initiate all disciplinary or administrative actions over the personnel appointed, deputed, posted or attached to that Inter-Services Organisation.
- For the purpose of this Act, Commanding Officer means the officer in actual command of the unit, ship or establishment.
- The Bill empowers the Central Government to constitute an Inter-Services Organisation.
Source: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1945699
4. CRITICAL MATERIALS CLUB
TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
THE CONTEXT: India has been invited to join the European Union’s (EU) Critical Materials Club. Preliminary discussions have already begun, and the idea is mainly to reduce dependency on China.
EXPLANATION:
- Months after India secured a seat in the US-backed Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), the doors are set to open for it in Europe too.
Critical Materials Club:
- Critical Materials Club is being created by the European Union.
- It aims to work on supply chains for battery and green technology-related “critical materials.”
- The Critical Materials Club is expected to bring together like-minded partners to strengthen supply chains for battery and other green technology-related ‘critical materials’.
- The idea is mainly to reduce dependency on China and pool resources for self-reliance in energy transition–an area of high priority for the US, most parts of Europe and India.
India on the domestic front:
- With the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023, passed by Parliament, the Centre is readying to announce the first set of auctions for critical mineral blocks.
- The first set of critical minerals identified for exploration and processing in India are lithium, graphite and potash.
- Lithium is one of the most sought-after critical minerals due to its high usage in batteries across products from electric vehicles to smartphones.For its lithium requirement, India is almost fully dependent on imports, mainly from China
- Recent efforts by the Geological Survey of India have helped identify blocks of lithium in Reasi, in J&K, and is expected to move on this round of auctions.
- Graphite is equally crucial to energy transition. It is a critical raw material for the manufacturing of electrodes, electrical motor brushes, fuel cells, high-temperature lubricants, and composites in wind and water turbines.
- It is also essential to the aerospace industry. India has identified graphite reserves in Arunachal and will look to auction these on priority
- Potash is another mineral that India wants to move fast on as it relies completely on imports of this key fertiliser industry input. People in the know told ET that potash reserves in Rajasthan are likely to move to auction route on priority.
Minerals Security Partnership (MSP)
- The Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) is a global initiative by the US to bolster critical mineral supply chains. It is also known as the critical minerals alliance.
- It was announced by the US and other key partner countries in June 2022 with an aim to ensure that critical minerals are produced, processed and recycled in a way that helps countries secure a stable supply of critical minerals for their economies.
- It also aims to weaken China’s grip on supplies of critical minerals worldwide.
5. DIGILOCKER
TAG: GS 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
THE CONTEXT: The passport application process in India now requires uploading documents on the DigiLocker platform to expedite and streamline the process.
EXPLANATION:
- There has been a significant change in the passport application process for international travel, and to apply for a new passport, applicants are now required to upload necessary supporting documents using DigiLocker.
- Once the documents are uploaded, applicants can submit their passport application online through the official website www.passportindia.gov.in.
- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that if applicants use DigiLocker to upload their documents, they won’t need to carry the original physical copies during the application process, as reported by government scheme info.
- This move is expected to streamline the processing time and enhance the efficiency of the passport application procedure.
What is DigiLocker?
- DigiLocker is a digital wallet service provided by the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
- It allows users to securely store and access various government-issued documents digitally, such as driver’s licenses, vehicle registration certificates, academic mark sheets, and more.
- It makes the process even faster and more convenient for applicants.
- The Ministry has now permitted the use of Aadhaar documents through DigiLocker for online application submissions.
- DigiLocker allows users to store and access important official documents like education certificates, birth certificates, PAN cards, Aadhaar cards, passports, and voter ID cards,
- This change has been implemented to expedite the application process and reduce the need for physical document verification at Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs) and Post Office Passport Seva Kendras (POPSKs) across different regions.
- The decision to utilise DigiLocker was taken in response to discrepancies found during physical document verification at PSKs, such as incorrect birth dates and personal details.
- By implementing DigiLocker, the government aims to ensure the accuracy and authenticity of the submitted documents.
How to use DigiLocker?
- To open a DigiLocker account, users need to provide a mobile number that is already linked to their Aadhaar.
- When registering for a DigiLocker account, the user will receive a one-time passcode (OTP) on the linked mobile number, which they need to enter to complete the registration process.
- If the user intends to make any changes to their DigiLocker account, such as updating the mobile number or full name, they must first update the corresponding data in their Aadhaar.
