The Context: Facial recognition technology (FRT) is rapidly developing and gaining widespread use in recent years. Its ability to identify individuals has been used in various fields, from law enforcement (Policing in Jaipur) and security (DigiYatra App at the airports) to marketing and social media. While the technology has the potential to revolutionize these fields, there are also concerns about its impact on privacy and human rights. This article analyses the ethical dilemmas involved from the UPSC perspective.

Mass surveillance: Mass surveillance refers to the widespread or large-scale spying or monitoring of vast groups of people, often carried out by governmental agencies, but also by corporations, especially in the context of collecting and storing large amounts of personal data. This surveillance can be executed through various means, including but not limited to:

• CCTV Cameras: Positioned in public areas to monitor movements and activities. These can be used in public spaces such as restaurants, metro rails, music festival or protest gatherings etc.
• Digital Communication Monitoring: Intercepting emails, text messages, and other forms of digital communication; for instance, Internet Surveillance (Tracking online activities, including browsing habits, search histories, and social media interactions), phone tapping etc.
• Drones and Aerial Surveillance: Using drones to monitor areas and track movements from the air.
• Biometric Surveillance: Using facial recognition, fingerprinting, and other biometric techniques to identify individuals.

SURVEILLANCE STATE AND ORWELLIAN STATE

A surveillance state refers to a government that engages in extensive monitoring of its citizens. In such a system, authorities use technology, laws, and other mechanisms to keep track of the activities, communications, and movements of individuals, often in the name of national security or public order. The surveillance might involve CCTV cameras, phone tapping, internet activity tracking, etc.

While surveillance states justify these actions as necessary for crime prevention and national defense, critics argue that they infringe upon individual privacy rights, curb freedoms, and can lead to an environment where citizens feel constantly watched and controlled.

An “Orwellian state” is derived from George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984,” depicting a totalitarian regime characterized by pervasive governmental surveillance, public manipulation, and oppression. In such a society, the government exercises control over every facet of public and private life.

Citizens are constantly monitored, history is rewritten to suit the state’s narrative, and independent thought is suppressed and deemed criminal.

This term, in modern discourse, is used to describe any state action reminiscent of the novel’s oppressive practices, particularly those involving surveillance, misinformation, and suppression of dissent.

A “surveillance state” and an “Orwellian state” share overlapping features, but they are not synonymous. A surveillance state primarily refers to a government or regime that engages in extensive monitoring and data collection of its citizens. The motives can vary from ensuring national security to maintaining political power, or both. While an Orwellian state, on the other hand, is broader in its oppressive measures. Though pervasive surveillance is a key feature, an Orwellian regime also encompasses information and history manipulation suppression of dissent and independent thought propaganda dissemination to control and shape public perception.

INSTANCES WHICH MADE THE WORLD AWARE OF THE MASS SURVEILLANCE IN PRESENT TIMES

In 2013, computer expert and former CIA systems administrator, Edward Snowden released confidential government documents to the press about the existence of government surveillance programs. Snowden argued that he had a moral obligation to act. He gave a justification for his whistle blowing by stating that he had a duty to inform the public.

Since then the society as well as the technology has evolved and the potential use/misuse of the technology have become more concerning.

1. In the USA, the primary concern around facial recognition technology is the infringement on individual privacy. While there are legitimate uses for the technology, such as in locating missing persons or identifying suspects in criminal cases, critics argue that its widespread use can turn public spaces into zones of constant surveillance. There is also the issue of racial bias; studies have shown that some facial recognition systems misidentify people of color at higher rates than white individuals, leading to fears of racial profiling, wrongful arrest and other such ills.

2. In China, facial recognition technology is ubiquitous and considered a norm in society. Cameras are placed in public places, schools, and even residential areas, with the stated aim of maintaining public safety. However, this widespread deployment has serious ethical implications concerning privacy and state control.

      There is little public debate on its ethical use, largely because dissent is not well-tolerated. In regions like Xinjiang, there are reports that facial recognition technology has been used as part of a broader state surveillance apparatus to monitor and control the Uighur Muslim minority, raising human rights concerns.

3. The United Kingdom has one of the highest numbers of surveillance cameras per capita in the world. While there are regulations governing their use, including a “Data Protection Act”, concerns about public surveillance remain. Police in London and Wales have conducted trials using facial recognition cameras in public spaces to identify individuals wanted for serious crimes.

RECENT INSTANCES IN INDIA GIVING RISE TO APPREHENSIONS

1. Most recently in September 2023, the Jaipur city police have adopted Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to monitor potential miscreants.

2. Manipur Chief Minister launched facial recognition system for Inner Line Permits in May 2023.

3. In December 2022, the government launched the app ‘DigiYatra’ which envisages that travelers pass through various checkpoints at the airport through paperless and contactless processing, using facial features to establish their identity.

4. In March 2020, the union Home Minister, Amit Shah, told the Rajya Sabha that the Delhi Police had used facial-recognition technology to identify nearly two thousand individuals as instigators of violence in the aftermath of Delhi riots. Interestingly even as there is no legal framework to regulate the use of the tool in the country, the infrastructure is already in place.

5. In 2021, the Pegasus Project, an international investigative journalism effort, revealed that various governments used the software to spy on government officials, opposition politicians, journalists, activists and many others. Such spywares not only infringes the individual rights but also raises the concerns of the legitimacy of the government of the day.

6. In Telangana, there are numerous facial recognition datasets that are being integrated into a “smart governance program,” called Samagram, which gives the state government a full picture of every resident’s life, including their employment status and other personal information. The goal isn’t only to track down criminals, but to build up a ‘360 degree view’ of every single person. This goes against the individual privacy.

PRIMARY ARGUMENTS FOR BOTH THE SIDES

In Favor of Individual Privacy

• Right to Privacy is considered a fundamental human right in many societies and is often enshrined in constitutions and human rights declarations. It’s integral to personal liberty and dignity.
• Potential for Abuse: Concentrating surveillance powers can lead to misuse. History is replete with examples where governments abused their surveillance capabilities to suppress dissent, control populations, or persecute minorities.
• Chilling Effect: Widespread surveillance can deter people from expressing themselves freely, associating with others, or participating in political activities, leading to a stifled society.
• Data Security Concerns: Accumulating vast amounts of personal data poses a risk if there are breaches, potentially exposing individuals to harm.

In Favor of Public Safety

• Protecting the public interest: The primary role of the state is to protect its citizens. If surveillance or data collection can prevent terror attacks, reduce crime, or generally ensure public safety, it might be deemed a necessary compromise.
• Changing Nature of Threats: The global rise in terrorism, cyber threats, and sophisticated crime networks necessitates advanced surveillance and data collection to protect nations and their citizens.
• Consent and Social Contracts: By being part of a society and enjoying its benefits, individuals implicitly agree to certain compromises on personal freedoms for the greater good.
• Transparency and Oversight: Proponents argue that as long as there’s rigorous oversight, judicial checks, and transparency in surveillance operations, the rights of citizens remain protected.
• Technological Evolution: As technology becomes an integral part of life, there’s an inherent reduction in privacy. Public spaces, online platforms, and commercial entities all engage in some form of data collection, making state-led efforts not significantly different.

Thinkers Perspective:

The debate between individual privacy and public safety has been a central theme in democracies around the world, especially with the rise of digital technologies and counter-terrorism measures. Though the tug-of-war between individual privacy and public safety isn’t new; it’s been a subject of contemplation for many political thinkers throughout history.

Kautilya’s views were deeply rooted in the welfare of the state and its people, and his thoughts can provide insights into the balancing act between individual rights and public safety. For Kautilya, the state’s stability and security were paramount. He believed that an orderly and prosperous state would naturally ensure the well-being of its people. While Kautilya did not discuss “individual rights” in the manner of contemporary Western philosophy, his focus on state welfare, rule of law, and individual duties indirectly touched upon the balance between public safety and individual well-being.

Thomas Hobbes, in his work “Leviathan,” opined that individuals cede some rights to a central authority (or a ‘sovereign’) to gain protection and maintain social order, which can be construed as an endorsement of state surveillance for safety.

On the other hand, John Locke, the 17th-century philosopher, argued that individuals have natural rights, like the right to “life, liberty, and property.” He contended that governments are formed to protect these rights, suggesting a boundary to governmental intrusion.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his writings hint at concepts related to individual freedom. Rousseau emphasized the “state of nature” where individuals were free and independent, suggesting a form of inherent personal autonomy and space. In his “Social Contract”, while he advocated for the collective “general will” as a guiding principle of governance, he also delineated the transition from natural freedom to civil freedom, emphasizing the sanctity of individual rights within a societal framework. Thus, Rousseau’s ideas indirectly promote the importance of personal space and autonomy, concepts intrinsic to contemporary notions of individual privacy.

John Stuart Mill’s “On Liberty” staunchly champions individual freedom. Central to his argument is the “harm principle,” positing that one’s liberty should only be restricted to prevent harm to others. Mill asserted that absolute freedom of thought and expression is vital for intellectual and societal advancement, even seeing value in false opinions as they sharpen the truth through refutation. He warned against the “tyranny of the majority,” wherein societal norms could oppress individual’s as much as governmental laws. For Mill, individual autonomy was essential, not just as a right, but as a pathway to personal development and societal progress.

The Analysis:

In present times the tension between individual privacy and public safety is a pivotal debate in modern democracies. Many argue that unchecked surveillance can deter free expression and association, leading to a society where individuals constantly self-censor. There’s also the looming danger of state misuse of surveillance capabilities, historically evidenced by regimes that suppressed dissent or targeted minorities. Furthermore, the technological accumulation of personal data heightens risks of data breaches and misidentifications.

On the other side, proponents of public safety argue that the state’s primary responsibility is to protect its citizens. In a world grappling with global terrorism, cyber threats, and intricate crime networks, enhanced surveillance and data collection become indispensable tools. They contend that with robust oversight, transparency, and legal checks, it is difficult to ensure public safety without trampling on individual rights.

In this debate, balancing Locke’s emphasis on individual rights with Hobbes’s stress on collective security gives rise to ethical dilemmas, even more so in our technologically advanced age. A balanced approach requires ongoing dialogue, transparent governance, and a commitment to upholding democratic values.

The Way Forward:

• Public surveillance undoubtedly entails substantial human rights risks and can substantially undermine the right to privacy. It is thus essential that States resorting to the use of public surveillance assess the potential human rights impacts of their actions and strictly ensure compliance with international human rights law.
• Despite the far-reaching impacts of the various forms of public surveillance, adequate applicable legal frameworks are largely missing in many countries. Data protection laws are often missing, inadequate or make broad exceptions for law enforcement and intelligence services. Laws and regulations need to have clearly determined and strict limitations on the access and merging of government databases.
• General monitoring of people in public spaces is almost invariably disproportionate. Surveillance measures in public spaces should be targeted and should address a concrete legitimate aim.
• The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), implemented by the European Union in 2018, stands as a landmark legislation prioritizing individual privacy in the digital age. The state should have legitimate concerns to subject the citizens under surveillance for the larger good.
• In the Puttaswamy Case (2017) while holding that the right to privacy is not absolute in nature, the judgment also gave the three-fold requirement of limiting the privacy. These shall be strictly adhered to by the state until the concrete law is enacted to regulate the use of surveillance tools for public safety in the country. These are:
  • legality, which postulates the existence of law;
  • need, defined in terms of a legitimate state aim; and
  • proportionality which ensures a rational nexus between the objects and the means adopted to achieve them.
• In the Manohar Lal Sharma vs Union of India (2021) (Pegasus case), the Supreme Court set up a committee of experts to recommend amendments to the existing law around surveillance to secure the right to privacy. The need to regulate surveillance activities, especially in light of privacy concerns, backed by a judicial push in India should be a wakeup call for the government.
• The DPDP Act 2023 is a welcome step where personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose upon consent of an individual.  Consent may not be required for specified legitimate uses such as voluntary sharing of data by the individual or processing by the State for permits, licenses, benefits, and services. It is for the government to secure such data from the thefts and unauthorized usages.

The Conclusion: As a country that is home to the largest democracy, our duty to empower our citizens towards their rights is as important as our duty to preserve national security. National security and privacy have largely been viewed as competing interests over the years; however, with the advent of technology and means of digital surveillance, protecting citizens’ information is also important. It is perhaps the best time to resolve the ethical dilemma and begin to view ‘protecting the privacy and information of citizen’s’ as a facet of ‘preserving national security’.

Mains Practice Questions:

Q.1 National security is important but it should not compromise the privacy of the individuals. Analyze in the context of the ethical dilemma between national security and the right to privacy.

Q.2 The current state of surveillance reform in India is on an uneven keel between national security and privacy. Comment.

Q.3 The recent technological developments have changed the surveillance architecture, where the tools have become more intrusive and damaging to our democratic safeguards. Discuss.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. India and Sri Lanka re-launch negotiations of the Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) READ MORE
2. UPSC tightens guidelines for appointment of State DGPs READ MORE
3. Haemoglobin isn’t used only in blood, scientists find in major discovery READ MORE
4. Manufacturing PMI falls to an eight-month low READ MORE
5. Gwalior, Kozhikode now on Unesco list of creative cities READ MORE
6. Bangladesh PM Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed voted as new WHO regional director READ MORE
7. India-born author Nandini Das wins 2023 British Academy Book Prize READ MORE
8. Rajya Sabha panel to hold meeting, take up pending cases of privilege breach READ MORE
9. India’s cotton yield may be lowest in 15 years, to drop by 20% READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Divorce: Changing attitudes and social mores READ MORE
2. WWF: 32 million acres of grasslands across US & Canadian Great Plains ploughed up since 2012 READ MORE
3. View from the Himalayas | The ‘Third Pole’ is drying up READ MORE
4. With El Nino around, the heat is on READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The blueprint to develop India by 2047 must factor in critical governance reforms READ MORE
2. Impacting a woman’s freedom to reproductive choices READ MORE
3. Law doesn’t bar states from counting castes READ MORE
4. Small projects, big impact READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Challenges in equipping job seekers with skills READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Hope floats for a thaw in China-US relations READ MORE
2. US can help India become battery manufacturing powerhouse. And decouple from China READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India is proud to be the biggest development partner of Bangladesh: PM READ MORE
2. Why GST collections surged sharply in October READ MORE
3. Supreme Court’s decision on tax treaties clarifies India’s Most Favoured Nation approach READ MORE
4. Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation: India and global supply chains READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. India’s race to a green hydrogen future READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI and the issue of human-centricity in copyright law READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Malware malice: On the Apple cyberattack alert READ MORE
2. India’s Need for a National Security Strategy Cannot Be Ignored READ MORE
3. Is it Time to Call India a Digital Dystopia? READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Farm fires rage on: Stakeholders not doing enough to curb menace READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The birth and death of Ego READ MORE
2. Essence of the Upanishads READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. One of the strengths of an effective administrator is the ability to retain equanimity and restraint in any situation and those in power do not act as the instruments of nemesis due to their inflamed egos. With the help of some real-life examples, justify this statement.
2. To address the challenges posed by rapid and mass urbanisation, policymakers must shift their focus to organic rural development that involves farmers and local communities. Do you think, in this regard, a bottom-up infrastructure development approach over a top-down approach would be an effective strategy?
3. Policymakers in India need to assume a more cautious approach against diluting the human-centricity in copyright law. Discuss why there is a need to have a cautious approach in extending existing IP protections to work generated by Artificial Intelligence?
4. Caste censuses are essential for addressing socioeconomic inequalities and informing policymaking. How far do you agree with this view? Justify your view.
5. India is deploying smart fencing, but there should be a balance between manned security and technologies. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
6. Recent data breach shows that digital India, in reality, is too far from the claim and India needs to renew its efforts to de-mystify technology with the aim of surveillance reforms. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.
• One of the strengths of an effective administrator is the ability to retain equanimity and restraint in any situation and those in power do not act as the instruments of nemesis due to their inflamed egos.
• Policymakers and courts in India also need to assume a more cautious approach against diluting the human-centricity in copyright law.
• The popularity and importance of the right to a piece of information has been used to hold local governments accountable for lapses in the delivery of services and secure access to basic rights and entitlements.
• Aiming for a high 9% growth rate between 2030 and 2047 is laudable but factoring in alternative scenarios and changing course when warranted, is advisable.
• There needs to be cautious approach in extending existing IP protections to work generated by Artificial Intelligence.
• There is no place within our constitutional structure to see a foetus as anything but dependent on the mother. To see it as a separate, distinct personality would be tantamount to conferring a set of rights on it that the Constitution grants to no other class of person.
• As economic realities change, negotiated relations among countries must also adapt. There is a need for periodic review of tax treaties, especially with respect to their economic benefits.
• The Hamas attack on Israel and this colossal human crisis that is unfolding before our eyes has key lessons for India and the world.
• Engaging with research organisations and academic institutions that focus on education, skills, and labour markets is critical to building capability.
• India needs infrastructure, but the issue is that policymakers often prioritise large and impressive projects that often benefit only those directly connected to the larger economy.
• To address the challenges posed by rapid and mass urbanisation, policymakers must shift their focus to organic rural development that involves farmers and local communities.
• India is deploying smart fencing but the recent developments show that there needs to be a balance between manned security and technologies.
• It is time to renew efforts to de-mystify technology with the aim of surveillance reforms, before this Digital Dystopia becomes a permanent future.
• Digital India isn’t what it is being claimed, the reality is different on the ground. It is time to renew efforts to de-mystify technology with the aim of surveillance reforms, before this Digital Dystopia becomes a permanent future.

50-WORD TALK

• India’s major IT companies have laid off 21,000 people between June and September, largely citing operational efficiency. This data is important. While there is the social cost of such a move, this is how markets function. It’s important for IT giants to think long and hire responsibly, not on impulse.
• India is testing smart fencing in Kashmir using sensors by Magal, which developed systems in Gaza and US. But the Israel episode shows that there needs to be a balance between manned security and technologies that enable unmanned defence at borders. Reliance on such technologies can only go so far.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED.
• Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: Recently, suspension of Members of Parliament over the violation of parliamentary privileges has generated a debate. The purpose of privileges is for efficient working of the house, but it is held that it is being used by government to punish the opposition. In this context, this article analyses the issue of privileges, their use and misuse and implications for the functioning  of Parliament.

BACK TO BASICS: AN OVERVIEW OF PRIVILEGES

PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES

• Parliamentary privileges are special rights, immunities and exemptions enjoyed by the two Houses of Parliament, their committees and their members. They are necessary in order to secure the independence and effectiveness of their actions.
• So far, neither Parliament nor any State legislature has enacted legislation that defines the powers, privileges and immunities of the Houses, or that of its members and committees.
• These immunities are presently governed by precedents by British parliamentary conventions.
• These privileges are mentioned in Article 105 for Parliament, and in Article 194 for the state legislatures.

COLLECTIVE PRIVILEGES

• The Indian Parliament can decide if its reports, debates, and proceedings should be published or not.
• The Parliament has the right to exclude outsiders from its proceedings.
• It can conduct secret sessions if needed.
• Parliament can make rules for regulating its procedures, business conduct, and work adjudication.
• It can suspend or expel members for violating privileges.
• Parliament can reprimand, admonish, or even imprison individuals who breach privileges.
• The Parliament is informed about the arrest, detention, conviction, imprisonment, and release of its members.
• The Parliament can initiate inquiries and call witnesses.
• The proceedings of the Parliament and its committees cannot be questioned in court.
• No arrests or legal processes can occur within the House precincts without the presiding officer’s permission.

INDIVIDUAL PRIVILEGES

• Members of Parliament cannot be arrested (civil offences only) during sessions, 40 days before and after sessions.
• They have freedom of speech in Houses and are immune from court proceedings for their speech in Parliament.
• They are exempt from jury service and can refuse to give evidence or appear as witnesses during sessions.

PRIVILEGE MOTION

• If members of Parliament feel that the parliamentary privileges have been breached, they can raise a privilege motion. Any member of Parliament can raise this with the consent of the chairperson of the house.
• When a privilege motion is raised, the chairperson can refer it to the “Privileges Committee.”

BREACH OF PRIVILEGES

• Breach of privilege is the violation of respective rights or immunities of the members of either House of Parliament or the State Assembly.
• When any member of the House or any outsider tries to devalue the power, privilege and immunity granted to members of the Houses as well as constituted committees, it is said that they are committing an offence of breach of privilege.
• Breach of privileges is a punishable offence. The form of punishment is decided as per the severity of the breach in accordance with the general law of Parliament.

PUNISHMENT FOR BREACH OF PRIVILEGES

• The authority to decide the punishment lies with the House. A person found guilty of breach of privileges or contempt can be reprimanded, warned or sent to prison.
• The period for which the House can commit an offender to custody or prison for contempt is limited to the duration of the session of the House.
• In case its member is found guilty, the MP can be suspended from the House or face expulsion.

 THE DEBATE OVER BREACHING PARLIAMENTARY PRIVILEGES?

• In a Rajya Sabha bulletin dated February 18, the secretariat informed that the Chairman had referred a question of an alleged breach of privilege against 12 MPs of Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). In addition to this, the bulletin mentioned a separate privilege notice against AAP’s Sanjay Singh for “non-adherence to the directions of the Chair”.
• Chairman of Rajya Sabha had rebuked the AAP leader for repeatedly submitting similar notices seeking suspension of business to discuss the Adani issue when the House was in session.
• The action witnessed frequent confrontations between Chairman of Rajya Sabha and the Opposition benches over the rejection of notices and discussion on the Adani issue, has sparked off a debate on discussion versus discipline in Parliament.
• Opposition has called the Chairman’s decision against the “democratic heritage” of Parliament. They questioned how parliamentary privilege is being violated when a Member of Parliament is exercising their right and puts forward a notice as per the rule book which regulates their conduct in the House.
• The Chairman also separately referred the matter of “repeated submission of identical notices” by AAP leader Sanjay Singh to the Committee of Privileges in the Upper House.

Recent Developments

• Recently, in the monsoon session of the Parliament, AAP MP Raghav Chadha and Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury were suspended for breach of privileges.
• The Lok Sabha suspended Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the Congress Leader of the House, for allegedly engaging in unruly conduct and causing repeated disturbances. The Lok Sabha’s privileges committee has been asked to look into Chowdhury’s conduct. He will remain suspended till it takes a decision.
• Another MP, Raghav Chadha was suspended from the Rajya Sabha for an alleged breach of privileges after four MPs complained that he named them in a House panel without their consent in violation of rules.
• The ruling government moved the resolution to suspend Chadha till the privileges committee submits its findings on the cases of breach of privileges.

THE COMMITTEE OF PRIVILEGES

What is the Privileges Committee?

• The Privileges Committee consists of 15 members in the case of Lok Sabha nominated by the Speaker and 10 members in the case of Rajya Sabha nominated by the Chairman.
• In the Lok Sabha, the Speaker nominates the head of the committee of privileges.
• In the Rajya Sabha, the deputy chairperson heads the committee of privileges.
• The objective of the committee is to safeguard the freedom, authority and dignity of Parliament.
• Its function is to examine every question involving a breach of privilege of the House or the members of any Committee.
• It determines concerning the facts and makes suitable recommendations in its report.

How does the Committee of Privileges work?

• If the matter is referred to the panel, it examines the question of privilege and decides if a breach of privilege is involved and the nature of the breach and circumstances leading to it.
• A report with recommendations is then presented to the House for its consideration.
• The Speaker may also allow a half-hour debate on the report by the committee before passing orders or directing that the report be tabled before the House.
• After a motion for consideration of the report, the Committee moves that the House agree or disagree with the amendments and recommendations in the report. Further action is taken per the decision of the House if the resolution is unanimously passed.

What kinds of cases come to the committee?

• Usually, the committees examine cases where MPs complain that an outsider has breached their privilege.
• For example, the Lok Sabha committee recently looked at multiple instances in which MPs have alleged that government officials have either violated protocol or been unresponsive. But this year, MPs have also brought questions about breach of privilege by other MPs.

What does the committee decide in breach of privilege cases against MPs?

• The Committee of Privileges has the power to recommend to the House for its consideration the issuance of admonitions, reprimands, suspension and, in rare cases, expulsion from the House.
• The convention followed by the committee of both Houses is that if the MP against whom a privilege matter is raised gives an unqualified apology, then the issue is allowed to rest, and it recommends no further action.

WHETHER THE SUSPENSION IS A MISUSE OF PRIVILEGES?

• A close examination of the rules of parliamentary privileges reveals that they are meant to clear obstruction in the House so that business can be conducted without obstruction with an element of punishment in it.
• Also, if the member breaches the privileges, member is temporarily disqualified in as much as he is not allowed to attend the meetings of the House or any meeting of the committees of which he may be a member, during his suspension.
• Similarly, he won’t be allowed to give any notice of questions, motions or resolutions. In effect, he is compelled to remain a non-member during this period.
• However, this fundamental idea about the disciplinary powers of the Houses seems to be changing of late. For example, in one case in the Rajya Sabha, the suspension of a member has been extended beyond the end of the recent session. In another case, a member has been suspended pending investigation by the privileges committee of the House.
• This kind of suspension is held to be unheard of in the history of parliament and clearly is misuse of power. Suspension pending investigation is done only in the case of government employees because the rules permit it. But in the case of members of parliament, there is no such rule.
• Therefore, these kinds of suspensions taken in partisan manner as a retaliation shows misuse of power and is also a violation against the Supreme Court Judgement.

NOTE: MORE ON THIS IN THE CLASS.

THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE SUSPENSION

Both Houses of Parliament possess the power to discipline unruly members so that they can function undisturbed. This power is given to ensure the smooth functioning of the Houses and to punish those who create disorder. However, misusing privileges to suspend the members can have a negative impact on parliamentary functioning.

• Weaponising of parliamentary privileges: Weaponising of parliamentary privilege for suspension of members is seen as an assault on democracy as it throttles every voice of dissent which is a necessary element of democratic government.
• Undermining freedom of expression: These actions threaten and intimidate opposition members as it creates a chilling effect on other members that leads to inhibition or discouragement of the legitimate exercise of freedom of speech and expression.
• Effect on functioning of parliament: If this process of suspension continues with arbitrary extension of duration of suspension by government it will impact functioning of parliament. Lesser debates will eventually deteriorate the quality of the Bills.
• Impact on representative democracy: Suspension of members of parliament who are the representative of the people undermines representative democracy and it directly affects the voice of electors.
• Lessen Accountability: Only targeting opposition for political motives undermines the role of opposition which leads to lack of legislative scrutiny and lessens the accountability of the ruling government.
• Hinder development: Splitting of agendas of ruling government and opposition members will eventually harm the overall development of the country as proper implementation of programme and policies would be disturbed.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Revisit the decision: As the suspension of members seems to be motivated by external reasons rather than for parliamentary democracy, the decision of suspension may need to be revisited.
• Codification of parliamentary privileges: Indian parliamentary privileges are not codified, and the constitution makers left it to the parliament to decide it on case-to-case basis. It’s high time for parliament to codify the privileges so that scope for violation and misuse of privileges minimize.
• Minimise the duration of suspension: Extension of duration of suspension lead to willful and persistent obstruction of the business. Therefore, suspension cannot be for an indefinite period, and it should be minimized.
• Ensuring Democratic values: Every instance of suspension of an MP triggers strong statements on both sides. Although privileges are not absolute rules, it should ensure democratic values and freedom of speech. Parliamentarians should be given sufficient scope to express their thoughts.
• Representative democracy: Parliament is the most important deliberative forum representing diverse interests of the country. Therefore, there is need for an alternative viewpoint to deal with suspension in spirit of representative democracy by indulging in civilized discourse rather than disruption of house.
• Constructive role of opposition: The opposition should play a constructive role in Parliament and be allowed to put forward its views and express itself in a dignified manner. Parliamentary privileges should enable members to become tools for freedom of expression and to work to enhance quality of debate and functioning of parliament. The majority party is responsible for governing and should take other parties into confidence.
• Learn from parliamentary working of UK: As the rule of parliamentary privileges has been borrowed from the British parliamentary conventions, lesson can be taken from their functioning of parliament. The House in UK decides on breaches of privilege and contempt on a case-by-case basis, on the advice of the Committee of Privileges, a cross-party select committee of MPs that considers matters relating to privilege referred to it by the House. It can ensure proper functioning of parliament in Indian parliament system as well.

THE CONCLUSION: Though the decision of suspension is only a blueprint it should be taken as a lesson. It is difficult to deal with planned parliamentary offenses and deliberate disturbances for publicity or political reasons. There is a need to strike a balance between deliberate disruption and raising the important issue, and that the solution to unruly behaviour has to be long-term and consistent with democratic values.

MAINS QUESTIONS

Q.1 What do you understand by Parliamentary Privileges? Discuss their importance for effectiveness of parliamentary functioning in the light of recent developments.

Q.2 Recent instances of suspension of members of parliament in the name of breach of privileges is a breach of democracy. Critically examine.

THE CONTEXT: Recently the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 was passed by the Parliament, in a bid to attract private sector investment in the exploration of critical and deep-seated minerals in the country. This article analyses this recent policy shift in India’s mineral sector from the UPSC CSE perspective.

WHAT ARE THE AMENDMENTS TO THE MMDR ACT, 1957?

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 amends the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 which currently regulates the mining sector.

INCLUSION OF SUB-SURFACE ACTIVITIES IN RECONNAISSANCE

• The MMDR Act currently defines reconnaissance as preliminary prospecting, encompassing aerial surveys, geophysical, and geochemical surveys, and geological mapping.
• The Mines and Minerals Bill, of 2023, expands reconnaissance to include activities like pitting, trenching, drilling, and sub-surface excavation that were previously prohibited.

INTRODUCTION OF EXPLORATION LICENSE (EL)

• The MMDR Act provides permits for reconnaissance, prospecting, mining leases, and composite licenses.
• The Amendment Bill introduces the concept of an exploration license, allowing reconnaissance or prospecting, or both, for specified minerals.
• This license covers 29 minerals listed in the Seventh Schedule, which includes precious metals like gold, silver, base metals like copper and nickel, and even atomic minerals.

DECLASSIFICATION OF ATOMIC MINERALS

• Six atomic minerals, previously restricted to government entities, are declassified as atomic minerals under the Bill.
• These minerals are beryl, beryllium, lithium, niobium, titanium, tantalum, and zirconium can now be explored and prospected by private players as well.

EXPLORATION LICENSE VALIDITY AND AREA

• The exploration license is issued for five years, extendable by two years upon application.
• Activities under a single exploration license can be conducted within an area of up to 1,000 square kilometers.
• After the initial three years, up to 25 percent of the originally authorized area can be retained by the licensee.

AUCTION MECHANISM FOR EXPLORATION LICENSES

• Exploration licenses will be granted through competitive bidding by state governments.
• The federal government will define the auction framework, rules, terms, and bidding parameters.

GEOLOGICAL REPORTS AND INCENTIVES

• The licensee must submit a geological report within three months of exploration completion or license expiration. If proven resources are found, the state government must conduct an auction for a mining lease within six months of the report.
• The licensee is entitled to a share in the auction value of the mining lease for the prospected mineral, with the share defined by the central government.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-LED AUCTIONS FOR CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MINERALS

• The federal government will conduct auctions for composite licenses and mining leases of specified critical and strategic minerals, including lithium, cobalt, nickel, phosphate, potash, and tin.
• However, the state government will continue to grant concessions.

MINES AND MINERALS (REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT) ACT (1957)

The MMDR Act 1957, the primary legislation governing mining in the country has been amended several times since its enactment including recently in 2015, 2016, 2020, and 2021.

Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act (1957):

• It is an act of the Parliament of India enacted to regulate the mining sector in India.
• This act is applicable to all minerals except minor minerals and atomic minerals.
• It details the process and conditions for acquiring a mining or prospecting licence in India. Mining minor minerals come under the purview of state governments.

Previous Amendments:

• The MMDR Act, 1957 was comprehensively amended in 2015 to bring several reforms in the mineral sector,

1. Mandating method of auction for grant of mineral concessions to bring transparency in allocation of mineral resources

2. For establishing District Mineral Foundation (DMF) for the welfare of the people and areas affected by mining

3. For establishing National Mineral Exploration Trust (NMET) to give thrust to exploration and for ensuring stringent penalty for illegal mining.

• The Act was further amended in 2016 and 2020 to address specific emergent issues and was last amended in 2021 to bring further reforms in the sector, such as

1. Removing the distinction between captive and merchant mines

2. Transfer of statutory clearances to ensure continuity in mining operations even with change of lessee

3. Removing the restrictions on transfer of mineral concessions

4. Lapsing of rights of non-auctioned concession holders which have not resulted in mining leases to ensure that concessions to private sector are only granted through auction etc.

REASONS FOR THE AMENDMENT

TO SECURE SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE

• Recent, Russian Ukraine war can be taken as a lesson that can affect global supply chains of critical minerals which is vulnerable to shocks leading to a lack of availability and skyrocketing prices.
• In this respect, there is need to have our own reserve of minerals to lessen impact of any global situation.

TO BOOST DOMESTIC PRODUCTION

• The Ministry of Mines, came out with a list of 30 minerals critical to the country’s economic development and national security. However, India is highly dependent on imports for a majority of minerals on this list.
• There is need to boost domestic production to reduce import dependency on country like china. Countries like the U.S., Australia, Japan, and the EU bloc have also created lists of critical minerals based on their specific economic needs.

UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF INDIAN MINING SECTOR

• Notably, it is estimated that India has explored just 10% of its Obvious Geological Potential (OGP), less than 2% of which is mined and the country spends less than 1% of the global mineral exploration budget.
• Studies by organisations such as the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research and the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CESP) note that India’s unique geological and tectonic setting is conducive to hosting potential mineral resources.

TO ENHANCE REQUIRED EXPERTISE

• Exploration requires techniques like aerial surveys, geological mapping, and geochemical analyses and is a highly specialised, time-intensive and monetarily risky operation with less than 1% of explored projects becoming commercially viable mines.
• In this respect, there is need for enhanced private participation for required expertise.

TO MEET CLEAN ENERGY DEMAND

• The clean energy transitions of countries including India, seeking to meet their net-zero emission goals, are contingent on the availability of critical minerals such as lithium.
• In this respect, there is need to have focus on critical minerals to fulfill India’s commitment towards energy transition and achieving net-zero emission by 2070.

 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE AMENDMENT

ACCELERATE THE PACE OF EXPLORATION

• According to a World Bank study, the demand for critical metals is expected to rise by nearly 500% by 2050.
• New Bill seeks to bring exploration processes in India at par with that of developed countries by getting private sector capacity into exploration, giving the example of Australia.
• This helps multiply exploration projects and accelerate the pace of exploration owing to private participation.

BOOST ECONOMY

• India’s mining industry forms a major part of the nation’s economy, both in terms of its own contribution to GDP and its supplying the raw materials that underpin India’s considerable manufacturing and infrastructure industries.
• Exploring this sector will helps in significantly boost the economy and national security in the country.

TACKLE THE HIGH RISKS AND COSTS

• Exploration for critical and deep-seated minerals demands specialized technical knowledge, advanced exploration techniques, and substantial financial investment.
• It aims to increase private sector participation which often possess the resources needed for these complex and high-risk operations. to tackle the high risks and costs associated with such projects.

COMPETITION AND EFFICIENCY

• Private sector participation introduces competition, which can drive efficiency and better allocation of resources. This can result in more cost-effective exploration processes.

REDUCED GOVERNMENT BURDEN

• Government agencies may not have the capacity to explore and develop all potential mineral resources.
• Private sector involvement relieves the government’s burden and allows them to focus on regulatory oversight and environmental management.

ISSUES IN THE AMENDMENT

REVENUE GENERATION MECHANISM

• Private companies’ revenue generation relies on a share of the premium paid by mining entities. However, this revenue realization is contingent upon successfully discovering a mine and subsequently auctioning it.
• The 2023 Amendment Bill mandates mining lease auctions within six months if mineral resources are proven post-exploration. This timeline may not align with historical trends, potentially leading to delays or even non-materialization of auctions due to clearance timelines and deposit complexities.

UNCERTAINTY IN REVENUE

• The lack of clarity in revenue prospects during exploration poses a significant challenge. Private explorers will not have a clear understanding of the revenue they will receive until the premium from a successful mine auction becomes known.
• This uncertainty might discourage private sector participation, as companies would prefer clearer revenue visibility during exploration.

CHALLENGES WITH AUCTION-BASED ALLOCATION

• Auctioning is more feasible when dealing with resources of known value, such as discovered mineral deposits.
• Auctioning unexplored resources is complex due to the inherent unpredictability in estimating the value of undiscovered mineral resources.

CAPITAL INVESTMENT ASSURANCE

• The 2023 Bill restricts private explorers from directly selling their discoveries, instead, allowing government auctioning. Private explorers are entitled only to a share of the premium at an unspecified stage.
• This differs from global best practices where private explorers have the option to directly sell their discoveries to mining entities, potentially affecting investment incentives.

NOT ENOUGH CONSULTATION

• Government has also been criticised for proceeding with such sweeping reforms to the mining industry with minimal consultation.
• Proposals were publicly released in late August 2020, with the notice from the Ministry of Mines inviting comments from the public, states and territories, industry, and other stakeholders  but the timeframe given for feedback was just 10 days which was a violation of India’s Pre-Legislative Consultation Policy.

OVERALL PROBLEMS IN MINING SECTOR

Mining sector plays significant role to meet the demands of GDP and economic growth of any country. Though India possesses promising geological conditions and the pathway to discover viable mineral reserves. However, mining sector is India is going through various challenges and disruptions that hamper its growth.

FORMALITIES AND LEGAL ISSUES

• The mining sector is subjected to different formalities and clearances that are required to continue operations conveniently.
• These also include legal obligations that make mining activities unviable and unprofitable.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

• Various mines have to close down due to failure in meeting environmental compliances.
• Mining is not permitted in certain areas due to the possibility of adverse effects on the population and environment.

LACK OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY

• The mining sector suffers from the lack of modernized techniques for exploration and extraction.
• Most of the mines use old and inefficient machinery without making any progress toward the upgrade in technology.

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

• The mining sector suffers from the problem of low asset and resource underutilization, especially under the control of public sector units.
• Moreover, the state governments are generally involved in the auction of mines and there may be ambiguities in political approaches between the center and state.

DISPLACEMENT OF COMMUNITIES

• Several mining zones are located in areas that are the natural habitat of tribes and rural communities. The displacement of these people is a matter of concern.
• Due to complexities related to the rehabilitation or compensation of these people, it becomes difficult to start the mining activities. Also, there are security threats in some mining belts from local people and agitators.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Diversification of funding sources: As Government agencies have limited budgets for mineral exploration. There is need to involve Private sector to diversifies funding sources which can reduce the financial burden on governments and allow for greater investment in exploration activities.
• Ensuring Transparency: For proper utilization of mineral resources there is need to ensure transparency in the use of the funds for sustainable development as there is less information on funds such as the Goa Mineral Ore Permanent Fund Trust and even the DMF in many states. India needs to adopt the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), the global standards of good governance ensuring transparency and accountability of the sector.
• Strengthen regulatory mechanism: Stringent regulatory mechanisms are required in the sector to mandate socio-economic rehabilitation and environmental restoration of mined-out areas, especially post-closure of mines and at the same time with proper implementation.
• More general reforms: There is need of more general reforms in the mining law to foster this competitiveness between public sector undertakings and private projects more broadly across the sector. At the same time there is need to encourage industry players to adopt sustainable technology solutions including green mining, coal ash ponds, and other newer technology vehicles that can further accelerate the productivity with the economy of scale and also better environmental performance.
• Global best practices: There is need to learn from global best practices and here Private companies can bring international best practices and experience to the exploration process, helping to align exploration activities with global standards and norms.

THE CONCLUSION: With series of reforms introduced, India is moving quickly with plans to revamp its mining sector by potential untapping mining sites that have been rendered inaccessible by existing regulatory frameworks. At the same time there is need to address the issue arising by proper stakeholder consultation to unlock its mineral potential, accelerate the pace of discovery, and ultimately contribute to the country’s economic growth and development.

MAINS QUESTIONS

Q.1 Discuss the problems being faced by the Mineral Sector in India? How can these problems be resolved with the help of Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023? Explain.

Q.2 Investment and reforms in mining sector is essential for more rapid and inclusive economic growth. Give reasons in support of your answer.

UPSC PYQ ON MINING

Q.1 “In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development”. Discuss. (150 words) (GS 1 2017)

Q.2 Despite India being one of the countries of the Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in percentage. Discuss. (Answer in 150 words) (GS 1, 2021)

THE CONTEXT: Recently, Soaring tomato and onion prices in Indian households raised concern as prices jump has put a question on the management of food in Indian economy. As food and nutritional security are the key to attain the sustainable development goals. In this respect, this article analyse the issue of food management to achieve food and nutritional security from the UPSC perspective.

INTRODUCTION: STATUS OF AGRICULTURE SECTOR

• Agriculture contributes about 18.8% to India’s gross value added (GVA) and is the largest employer of the workforce.
• Due to Green Revolution, India has transitioned from a country dependent on food imports in the early 1960s to a major exporter of several agricultural commodities now.
• Despite this tremendous increase in production, the per capita availability of food grains has remained stagnant.
• There is an urgent need for reorientation of the long- term direction of agri-food systems to not only enhance farm incomes but also ensure better access to safe and nutritious foods.
• Additionally, the agri-food systems need to be reoriented to minimise cost on the environment and the climate.
• The worsening picture of nutrition calls for a transformative change in Indian agriculture.
• However, several steps to improve affordability and access to nutritious food have been taken in recent times.

DEFINING FOOD SECURITY: FOUR DIMENSIONS

• The main objectives of food management are procurement of foodgrains from farmers at remunerative prices, distribution of foodgrains to consumers, particularly the vulnerable sections of society at affordable prices and maintenance of food buffers for food security and price stability.
• The nodal agency which undertakes procurement and storage of foodgrain is the Food Corporation of India (FCI). The distribution of foodgrains is primarily under the National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) and other welfare schemes of the Government and is governed by the scale of allocation and its offtake by the beneficiaries.
• The 1995 World Food Summit declared, “Food security at the individual, household, regional, national and global levels exist when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”.
• The concept of Food Security evolved over time from ‘freedom from hunger’ in the early 1940s into broad concept encompassing four dimensions:

AVAILABILITY

• It is a physical determinant, which is ensured if adequate food is available at peoples’disposal.
• Food production provides the base for food security as it is a key determinant of food availability.
• Food and nutrition security are intimately interconnected, since only a food-based approach can help in overcoming malnutrition in an economically and socially sustainable manner.

ACCESSIBILITY

• Food security exists when all people always have physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs for a productive and healthy life.
• It is achieved if a household has sufficient resources to obtain an appropriate diet. The economic access of a household to adequate food depends on its purchasing power.
• To ensure access to food for all, the mere availability of food in the country is obviously not sufficient. Food inflation is an important parameter by which we can gauge the economic access to food.

UTILISATION

• Food utilization is the proper biological use of food, requiring a diet providing sufficient energy and essential nutrients, potable water, and adequate sanitation.
• It depends upon the biological and social environment and proper health care.
• Effective food utilization depends in large measure on knowledge within the household of food storage and processing techniques, basic principles of nutrition and proper childcare.

STABILITY

• To be food secure, a population, household or individual must always have access to adequate food. They should not risk losing access to food because of sudden shocks (e.g., an economic or climatic crisis) or cyclical events (e.g., seasonal food insecurity).
• The concept of stability can therefore refer to both the availability and access dimensions of food security.
• Stability describes the temporal dimension of food and nutrition security, respectively, which ensures the food supply at household level remains more or less constant during the year and in the long-term.

DEFINING NUTRITIONAL SECURITY

• Nutrition is fundamental for good health and development during the early years of life.
• Optimal nutrition and correction of nutritional deficiencies during the early years are of
  particular significance and can have enduring adverse effects beyond childhood, or die.
• Malnutrition refers to deficiencies or excesses in nutrient intake, imbalance of essential
  nutrients or impaired nutrient utilization.
• The double burden of malnutrition consists of both undernutrition and overweight and obesity, as well as diet-related non-communicable diseases. Undernutrition manifests in four broad forms: wasting, stunting, underweight, and micronutrient deficiencies.
• Malnutrition restricts the cognitive and physical development that consequently leads to poor educational and economic attainment perpetuating poverty.
• The SDG 2 (‘End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture’) clearly mentions the concept of ‘nutrition’.

STUNTING

• It indicates chronic undernutrition and the impaired growth and development that children experience from poor nutrition, repeated infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation.
• Children are defined as stunted if their height-for-age is more than two standard deviations below the WHO Child Growth Standards median.

WASTING

• It indicates acute undernutrition and is associated with a higher risk of death if not treated properly.
• It is defined as low weight-for-height. It often indicates recent and severe weight loss, although it can also persist for a long time.
• It usually occurs when a person has not had food of adequate quality and quantity and/or they have had frequent or prolonged illnesses.

UNDERWEIGHT

• It reflects inadequate food availability and as weight is easy to measure, hence, this is the indicator for which most data have been collected in the past.
• The mortality risk is increased in children who are even mildly underweight, and the risk is even greater in severely underweight children.

MICRONUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

• Micronutrient deficiencies are a lack of vitamins and minerals that are essential for body functions such as producing enzymes, hormones and other substances needed for growth and development.

GOVERNMENT MEASURES

• Government of India has been proactive about ensuring access to food to its citizen. For which Government of India has implemented various schemes.
• The interventions of the Government have been in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Doubling Farmers’ Income, which had identified improvement in crop and livestock productivity, diversification towards higher value crops, better resource efficiency, enhanced cropping intensity, improvement in real prices received by farmers and shift from farm to nonfarm occupations as being significant sources of growth.

NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY ACT (NFSA), 2013

• National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA) marks a paradigm shift in the approach to food security from welfare to rights-based approach.
• NFSA covers 75% of the rural population and 50% of the urban population under: (i) Antyodaya Anna Yojana: It constitute the poorest of-the-poor, are entitled to receive 35 kg of foodgrains per household per month. (ii) Priority Households (PHH): Households covered under PHH category are entitled to

PM KISAN SCHEME

• It is a Central Sector Scheme to supplement the financial needs of land-holding farmers.
• The financial benefit of ₹6,000 per year is transferred into the bank accounts of farmer families through DBT. It is one of the largest DBT schemes in the world.
• Many studies and findings indicate that the PM KISAN scheme has helped farmers towards productive investment in agricultural activities. This, through a multiplier effect, has contributed to the overall improvement of the farm sector.

AGRICULTURE INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (AIF)

• AIF is a financing facility operational from the year 2020-21 to 2032-33 for the creation of post-harvest management infrastructure and community farm assets, with benefits including 3 per cent interest subvention and credit guarantee support.
• AIF scheme has the facility of convergence with any other scheme of the State or Central Government and can prove to be a milestone in investment in the agriculture sector.

MISSION FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF HORTICULTURE (MIDH)

• Several expert groups have identified horticulture as a high-growth area and a source of buoyant income and improved resilience for farmers.
• It aims to promote horticulture covering fruits, vegetables, root and tuber crops, spices, flowers, plantation crops etc., was introduced in 2014-15.
• The interventions include introducing improved varieties and quality seeds, incentives for plantation crops, cluster development, and post-harvest management.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURE MARKET (E-NAM) SCHEME

• The Government of India launched the National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Scheme in 2016 to create an online transparent, competitive bidding system to ensure farmers get remunerative prices for their produce.
• Under the e-NAM Scheme, the Government provides free software and assistance of ₹75 lakh per APMC mandi for related hardware, including quality assaying equipment and the creation of infrastructure like cleaning, grading, sorting, packaging, compost unit, etc.

PM-POSHAN SCHEME

• The Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN), a Centrally Sponsored Scheme provides one hot cooked meal per day in Government and Government-aided Schools from 2021–2025.
• The Ministry of Education is carrying out the Scheme.
• The primary goals is to address two of the most pressing issues facing the majority of children in India, namely hunger and education.
• It does so by enhancing the nutritional status of eligible students in Government and Government-aided schools and encouraging low-income students from disadvantaged sections to attend school more frequently.

RELATED CHALLENGES

Important Statistics

• According to UN-India, there are nearly 195 million undernourished people in India, which is a quarter of the world’s hunger burden.
• Roughly 43% of children in India are chronically undernourished.
• According to NHFS-4, 38% of children below 5 years are stunted, 21% are wasted and 36% are underweight.
• According to NHFS -5, The level of stunting among children under five years has marginally declined from 38% to 36% in the country since the last four years. Stunting is higher among children in rural areas (37%) than urban areas (30%) in 2019-21.
• Compared with NFHS-4, the prevalence of overweight or obesity has increased in most States/UTs in NFHS-5. At the national level, it increased from 21% to 24% among women and 19% to 23% among men.
• People Below Poverty Line in India decreased to around 22% in 2011-12. The Poverty percentage was calculated using the Tendulkar methodology.
• India has one-third of the world’s stunted children: Global nutrition report.
• According to FAO estimates in ‘The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI), 2022” report,  India has high undernourishment (about 16% of the population), wasting (about 17%), stunting (about 31%) and low exclusive breastfeeding practice (only 58%).
• Global Hunger Index (GHI): India ranked an abysmal 107 out of 121 countries on the Global Hunger Index (GHI) 2022. Globally, the progress against hunger has largely stagnated in recent years, with a global score of 18.2 in 2022 as compared to 19.1 in 2014, there is only a slight improvement. However, the 2022 GHI score is still considered “moderate”

LOW PRODUCTIVITY

• This is mainly due to a lack of improvement in agricultural productivity owing to inadequate resources and markets needed to obtain agricultural stability.

LACK OF EDUCATION AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND INADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE

• Lack of adequate knowledge due to poor education amongst mothers regarding nutrition, breast-feeding and parenting is another area of concern.
• For the poorer section of society, lack of adequate education and job opportunities has led to significant economic backwardness that turned into inaccessibility.

QUALITY ISSUE AND AFFORDABILITY

• Low quality of grains and the poor service at PDS shops has further added to the problem.
• Another important point which might promote food insecurity high cost of food grains which poor sections cannot afford.

INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION

• The Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) has the disadvantage in the sense that those people who are the right candidates for deserving the subsidy are excluded on the basis of non-ownership of below poverty line (BPL) status, as the criterion for identifying a household as BPL is arbitrary and varies from state to state.
• The often inaccurate classification as above poverty line (APL) and below poverty line (BPL) categories had resulted in a big decline in the off-take of food grains.

INEFFICIENT IMPLEMENTATION

• Although a number of programmes with improving nutrition as their main component are planned in the country, these are not properly implemented.
• For instance, a number of states have yet to introduce the Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS). In states such as Bihar and Orissa where the poverty ratio is very high, poor implementation of nutritional programmes that have proven effectiveness has a significant impact on food security.

THE WAY FORWARD

The main pathways from agriculture to nutrition are through:

1). Food production

2). Agricultural income

3). Women’s empowerment

A combination of resource efficient methods, dynamic cropping patterns, ICT based climate-smart agriculture can enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

• Enhancing area under cultivation: To ensure food and nutritional security there is need to enhance area under cultivation. It can be achieved through watershed development programme improvement in productivity of various crops, enhancement of groundwater recharge, change in net sown area and irrigated area, increase in cropping intensity and reduction in soil loss.
• Resource use efficiency: There is need to increase resource efficiency through adoption of appropriate technologies. The development strategy for agriculture should prioritise smallholder agriculture in order to promote sustainable livelihoods and for reduction of poverty in India. There is need to promote use of environment-friendly automated farm machinery tools suited to small scale operations.
• Increasing Sustainability in Agriculture: Sustainability in agriculture can be done by turning to Organic and Natural Farming. The government has been promoting organic farming in the country through the schemes such as Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY). There is need to proper implementation of these initiatives.
• Improving Infrastructure and Access to Markets: The informal actors like local traders and input dealers are more prominent in the marketing channels of the smallholder farmers. However, if farmers’ access to markets are improved through better connectivity to nearby mandis, it will help farmers fetch better prices for their agricultural produce. A combination of enhancing rural infrastructure to improve connectivity, Information & Communication Tech-nology (ICT) to provide timely information about prices, aggregation and storage facilities can help small and marginal farmers in overcoming the marketing bottlenecks.
• Sponsoring research and dissemination of knowledge to farmers: Extending assistance for research and dissemination of knowledge to farmers in collaboration with institutions under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, state agricultural universities and other institution can help develop a sustainable farming operation.
• Fortification of rice: Rice fortification is found to be a cost-effective strategy to increase vitamin and mineral content in diets with low turnaround time (TAT) and a step towards nutritional security and helps in fighting malnutrition in the country. Government has introduced a scheme for the distribution of fortified rice, containing prescribed micronutrients (Iron, Folic Acid, Vitamin B12) in order to address the problem.

THE CONCLUSION: While Indian agriculture has performed well, the sector needs re-orientation in the backdrop of certain challenges as the health of a country’s agri-food systems determines the health of its people. For a safe and food secure future, the agriculture landscape has to undergo tremendous transformation and shift from the philosophy of ‘green revolution’ led productivity to ‘green methods’ led sustainability in agriculture.

MAINS QUESTIONS

Q.1 Define food security along with its dimensions. Discuss the challenges and steps taken by government in this regard.

Q.2 The real challenge to India’s Agricultural sector is poor food management rather than food production .How it affects food and nutritional security? Explain.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Cabinet approves Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2024-25 READ MORE
2. How quantum algorithms solve problems that classical computers can’t READ MORE
3. Parliamentary Panel examining Bill to increase minimum age of marriage for women gets another extension READ MORE  
4. Centre notifies transfer of 16 High Court judges, appointment of 17 READ MORE
5. OBCs and subcategories: Why this has been a hot-button issue for long READ MORE
6. Severe drought grips the Amazon rainforest: The impact, cause and grim future READ MORE
7. Israel using white phosphorus in Gaza? 5 things about the controversial weapon READ MORE
8. Flash floods in Kerala: A junked breakwater plan may have been Achilles’ heel READ MORE
9. Microalgae are adapting to warming climate, declining nutrient levels in seas with novel strategy READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. In India, reproductive autonomy remains a pipedream READ MORE
2. Why Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage verdict opens no doors for queer people READ MORE
3. Same-Sex Marriage: An opportunity lost, hope not forever READ MORE
4. Holes in the green cover READ MORE
5. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Revamp governance to make cities liveable READ MORE
2. Limits to women’s reproductive rights READ MORE
3. Same-Sex Marriage : Onus on legislature to initiate reforms READ MORE
4. Two decades on, India plans to strengthen diplomatic corps READ MORE
5. Federalism puzzle READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. India Improve nutrition delivery and don’t bristle at low rank READ MORE
2. Global Hunger Index a stark reminder to address hunger, poverty READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The BRI at 10, some hits, many misses READ MORE
2. The old Middle East is not back READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The measure of the working woman READ MORE
2. Fear factor: On the inflation battle READ MORE
3. Going beyond the International Year of Millets to achieve decade-long action READ MORE
4. Tackling urban poverty READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Accelerating green innovation through EVs READ MORE
2. India’s energy transition: Who will lead the way? READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. The explosion of digital uncertainty READ MORE
2. The final frontier READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Localise strategies to build climate resilience READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Cybercrime surge: Focus on persistent vigil, collaborative efforts READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Consciousness chronicles, from duality to bliss READ MORE
2. Happy greetings READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions, the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters. Comment.
2. Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-independence period, India has yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy. Do you agree that transforming education into the practice of freedom is an effective way forward?
3. The Electoral Bonds scheme not only creates an uneven playing field for political parties but is a danger to our democracy. Comment.
4. The SHG federations with the existing panchayat-level committees have opportunities to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• You cannot continue to victimise someone else just because you yourself were a victim once.
• Our real enemies are not men and women but suspicion, fear, hatred, violence and feeling of revenge and these enemies cannot be eliminated by military means.
• Discoms will be profitable only when they are unshackled from state controls and electricity distribution is deregulated.
• The goal should be to create more employers than employees, and it is hoped that “PM Vishwakarma” will help make this a reality.
• The SHG federations can work with the existing panchayat-level committees to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities.
• The SHG model is a flexible and comprehensive tool to steer holistic development services as opposed to only providing financial and livelihood services to SHG women.
• While women-led federations role in promoting empowerment and livelihoods promotion is well known, not much has been highlighted about the SHG federation’s work in providing non-financial and development services in their communities.
• As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters.
• The biggest concern for India right now is the decline in both merchandise exports and imports over the past eight months.
• If the Indian government remains convinced about not joining the RCEP, it must have strategic reasons, which is fine. But it must nevertheless address the ongoing outcomes of such a decision, and that’s where agility in policymaking comes in.
• Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-Independence period, India is yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy.
• Education has to set its epistemic and moral worth and the goals of education should be quality, equity and efficiency in learning outcomes.
• A level playing field in terms of educational opportunities and competition, coupled with affirmative action, can enhance classroom accountability.
• To integrate critical thinking, educational reform has to assimilate the willingness to be rationally critiqued and learning must inculcate the ability to question from different vantage points.
• One is the legalisation of anonymous donations, and the other is the violation of citizens’ right to information about the funding of parties.
• The legalisation of anonymous donations would amount to facilitation and legitimisation of corruption.
• In a democracy, the public have the right to know who funds parties because the funding may be used to influence policies.

50-WORD TALK

• While arguments on who bombed al-Ahli Hospital rage, it underlines the horrors ahead if war grinds on in densely-populated Gaza. The killing of innocent civilians is empowering extremists and defeating the international peacemaking crisis. Leaders on all sides must refrain from stoking a fire threatening to spread beyond the region.
• As the threat of climate change grows stark, events like the recent glacial lake outburst flood that caused death and devastation in Sikkim are becoming frequent. This underlines the urgency of installing early warning systems in the fragile Himalayan range. Governments can no longer afford to ignore such red flags.
• Faced with a moral, legal and ethical dilemma, the Supreme Court walked on eggshells to reject a 26-week-old pregnant woman’s plea to abort her foetus on the ground that it risked her psychologically. The issue will be debated in the coming days as a prudent balance between competing fundamental rights.
• GIFT City has many infrastructural marvels, and attractive tax incentives. But, it’s nowhere near being the next Singapore. It needs to come out of Gujarat government’s shadows and allow a restriction-free, socially liberal lifestyle that youthful, global workforce thrives on. Relax prohibition, improve connectivity, housing, open spas, and golf courses.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: In August 2023, the Parliament passed the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), 2023. The Act holds significance as a fundamental component of the comprehensive structure of technology regulations and protection of privacy being developed in the country. In this context, this article analyses various aspects of the Act in order to enable the students to develop the right perspective.

NEED FOR DIGITAL DATA PROTECTION LAW

• Way back in 2006, the British mathematician Mr Clive Humpy was able to visualize the importance of data and said that ‘Data is the New Oil’. Digital data has become a precious tradable commodity that can potentially be a competitive leverage for market players.

In India, according to one estimate, the digital population reached close to 700 million active internet users with 467 million social media users creating mammoth digital data. As a result, India has emerged as the second-largest internet market. When digital data has emerged as an all-pervasive business enabler, its generation, ownership, sharing, data protection and maintenance of mutual trust among data transmitters assume greater significance.

• Personal data is information that relates to an identified or identifiable individual. Businesses as well as government entities process personal data for the delivery of goods and services and processing personal data allows understanding preferences of individuals, which may be useful for customisation, targeted advertising, and developing recommendations.

However, unchecked processing may have adverse implications for the privacy of individuals, which has been recognised as a fundamental right. It may subject individuals to harm such as financial loss, loss of reputation, and profiling.

• In August 2017, the 9 Judges Bench of the Supreme Court in its verdict in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd) vs. Union of India case held that the Right to Privacy is a fundamental right under Article 21.

As technologies like Artificial Intelligence advance and permeate various aspects of daily lives, the potential for extensive data collection, analysis, and manipulation grows exponentially and without effective data protection measures, individuals’ personal information is at risk of being exploited, leading to privacy breaches, identity theft, and other malicious activities.

THE KEY FEATURES OF THE ACT

APPLICABILITY

The Bill applies to the processing of digital personal data within India where such data is:

• collected online, or
• collected offline and is digitised.

The provisions of the Act will also apply to the processing of personal data outside India if it intends to offer goods or services in India.

CONSENT

• Personal data may be processed only for a lawful purpose after obtaining the consent of the individual and a notice must be given before seeking consent.
• Consent may be withdrawn at any point in time.
• Consent will not be required for ‘legitimate uses’ defined in the Bill.
• For individuals under 18 years of age, consent will be provided by the parent or the legal guardian.

DATA PRINCIPAL

Rights of data principal: 

• An individual whose data is being processed (data principal), will have the right to:
• obtain information about processing,
• seek correction and erasure of personal data,
• nominate another person to exercise rights in the event of death or incapacity, and
• grievance redressal.

Duties of data principal: They must not:

• register a false or frivolous complaint, and
• furnish any false particulars or impersonate another person in specified cases.
• Violation of duties will be punishable with a penalty of up to Rs 10,000.

DATA FIDUCIARIES

Obligations of data fiduciaries:  The entity determining the purpose and means of processing (data fiduciary) must:

• make reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy and completeness of data,
• build reasonable security safeguards to prevent a data breach,
• inform the Data Protection Board of India and affected persons in the event of a breach, and
• erase personal data as soon as the purpose has been met and also the retention (time limit for storing the data) is not necessary for legal purposes.

For government entities, storage limitation and the right of the data principal to erasure will not apply.

DATA PROTECTION BOARD OF INDIA

The central government will establish the Data Protection Board of India.  Key functions of the Board include:

• monitoring compliance and imposing penalties,
• directing data fiduciaries to take necessary measures in the event of a data breach, and
• hearing grievances made by affected persons.
• Board members will be appointed for two years and will be eligible for re-appointment.

Appeals against the decisions of the Board will lie with TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal).

EXEMPTIONS

The rights of the data principal and obligations of data fiduciaries (except data security) will not apply in specified cases.

The central government may, by notification, exempt certain activities from the application of the Bill.  These include:

• processing by government entities in the interest of the security of the state and public order, and
• research, archiving, or statistical purposes.

PENALTIES

The schedule to the Bill specifies penalties for various offences such as up to:

• Rs 200 crore for non-fulfilment of obligations for children, and
• Rs 250 crore for failure to take security measures to prevent data breaches.

Penalties will be imposed by the Board after conducting an inquiry.

  THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DATA PROTECTION ACT

• Protects the privacy of the individual: The Data Principal (DP) has to give written consent to generate and process the data indicating the specific purpose of its use. DP can also withdraw the consent at any time or can restrict its use. The Act also grants certain rights to individuals including the right to obtain information, seek correction and erasure, and grievance redressal.
• Safeguards the legitimate aim of the state: Exemptions to data processing by the State on grounds such as sovereignty and integrity may lead to data collection, processing, and retention beyond what is necessary.
• Enables growth and innovation: The Act holds immense importance in the present digital landscape and it will solidify India’s position as a global leading innovation hub, the IT industry and stimulate India’s digital thought leadership globally.
• Promotes digital economy: The Act provides a regulatory framework that balances the interests of consumers, businesses, and the government while ensuring the digital economy is secure, transparent, and trusted.
• Independent authority to implement: The Act provides for the creation of a Data Protection Board (DPB) to enforce the compliance of provisions of the legislation.
• Matching with the international regime: The DPDP Act follows the global minimum standard for privacy and data protection and forms a solid foundation for building effective protection and trust for individuals and developing common international approaches to transborder data flows.

CRITICISMS OF THE ACT

• May violate the right to privacy: The Supreme Court in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd) vs. Union of India (2017) has held that any infringement of the right to privacy should be proportionate to the need for such interference.

However, the Act empowers the central government to exempt processing by government agencies from any or all provisions, in the name of security of the state and maintenance of public order. Such exemptions for the State may lead to data collection, processing, and retention beyond what is necessary.  This may violate the fundamental right to privacy giving rise to the apprehensions that the collected data might be used to create a 360-degree profile for surveillance.

• Curtails access to information: The RTI Act includes a provision to harmonise peoples’ right to information with their right to privacy through an exemption clause under Section 8(1)(j). Personal information is exempt from disclosure if it has no relationship to any public activity however; the DPDPA exempts all personal information from disclosure. This threatens the very foundations of the transparency and accountability regime in the country.
• Does not address the issues arising from the processing of personal data: The Act falls short of regulating harm arising from the processing of personal data. The Srikrishna Committee (2018) observed that harm is a possible consequence of personal data processing which includes financial loss, loss of access to benefits or services, identity theft, loss of reputation, discrimination, and unreasonable surveillance and profiling.
• Not enough protection in case of cross-border transfer of data: The Act provides for the central government to restrict the transfer of personal data to certain countries through a notification. This implies the transfer of personal data to all other countries without any explicit restrictions.

This mechanism may not provide adequate protection. In the absence of robust data protection laws in another country, data stored outside India may be more vulnerable to breaches or unauthorised sharing with foreign governments as well as private entities.

• Independence of the Data Protection Board of India: The Act provides that members of the Data Protection Board of India will function as an independent body. A short-term appointment (2 years) with the scope for re-appointment may affect the independent functioning of the Board.

WHETHER THE DPDP ACT 2023 REALLY PROTECTS PRIVACY?

The inclusion of exemptions in the DPDP Act has the potential to result in an expansion of data collection, processing, and retention beyond the bounds of what is deemed essential. The potential lack of proportionality and potential infringement upon the fundamental right to privacy may be observed. The Act also does not mandate government agencies to erase personal data once the processing purpose has been fulfilled. In the case of PUCL vs Union of India (1996), the Supreme Court imposed several safeguards that must be adhered to, including the establishment of necessity, purpose limitation, and storage limitation. The obligations of data fiduciaries under the Act, which have been exempted, bear resemblance to these safeguards and raise questions about privacy.

As CJI DY Chandrachud has asserted that the establishment of any robust data protection system necessitates a meticulous and delicate equilibrium between the interests of individuals and the valid apprehensions of the state. The government has maintained that it needs some exemptions and cannot be treated at par with private entities in all cases for various reasons connected with issues including terrorism, law and order, and public health emergencies. Although there is merit in the government argument, exemptions without procedural safeguards may create the fear of a surveillance state. It is commendable that the IT Minister recently indicated that as and when the Act is implemented, procedural safeguards will also be introduced. Although this is a welcome step, other concerns like ‘consent dilution’, penalty for data principal, selective compliance regime etc. need to be addressed.

DATA PROTECTION LAWS AROUND THE WORLD

EUROPEAN UNION

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

• GDPR is a legal framework that sets guidelines for the collection and processing of personal information from individuals of the European Union (EU). The law came into effect in May 2018 and applies to all 28 of European Union members.
• Its aim is to give consumers control over their own personal data by holding companies responsible for the way they handle and treat this information.
• Under the terms of GDPR, not only do organisations have to ensure that personal data is gathered legally and under strict conditions, but those who collect and manage it are obliged to protect it from misuse and exploitation.
• Companies are also required to respect the rights of data owners – or face penalties for not doing so.

SINGAPORE

• The Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) provides a baseline standard of protection for personal data in Singapore. It complements sector-specific legislative and regulatory frameworks such as the Banking Act and Insurance Act.
• The PDPA recognises both the need to protect individuals’ personal data and the need for organisations to collect, use or disclose personal data for legitimate and reasonable purposes. By regulating the flow of personal data among organisations, the PDPA also aims to strengthen Singapore’s position as a trusted hub for businesses.
• Organisations are required to comply with various data protection obligations if they undertake activities relating to the collection, use or disclosure of personal data.

NEW ZEALAND

• The Privacy Act 2020 repealed and replaced the Privacy Act 1993 and came into effect on 1 December 2020.
• The Act strengthens privacy protections and promotes early intervention and risk management by agencies (the name used for any organisation or person that handles personal information) and enhances the role of the Privacy Commissioner.
• New Zealand agencies also ensure that personal information sent overseas is protected by comparable privacy standards.
• The Act also clarifies that when a New Zealand agency engages an overseas service provider, it will have to comply with New Zealand privacy laws.
• Misleading the agency in a way that affects someone else’s information, and destroying documents containing personal information also attracts fines of up to $10,000.

USA

• There is no comprehensive set of privacy rights or principles in the US that, like the EU’s GDPR, addresses the use, collection, and disclosure of data instead, there is limited sector-specific regulation. The approach towards data protection is also different for the public and private sectors.
• The activities and powers of the government vis-a-vis personal information are well-defined and addressed by broad legislation such as the Privacy Act, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, etc.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Given that the government is the biggest data repository, an effective data protection law must not give exemptions and wide discretionary powers to the government which could possibly result in immense violations of citizens’ privacy.
• The creation of a government-controlled Data Protection Board is bound to raise serious apprehensions of it becoming another caged parrot open to misuse by the executive to target the political opposition and those critical of its policies. The concerns need to be urgently addressed.
• The Act also provides for the executive to exempt a single company or a class of companies from compliance. It might lead to a partisan than a constitutionalist regime which may not be appropriate.
• A robust data protection law is just one aspect of a broader framework for digital governance. To ensure comprehensive regulation, cyber security, competition, artificial intelligence, and other relevant areas must also be addressed. The European Union’s approach can provide valuable insights.
• BN Srikrishna committee also suggested, that there is a conflict of fundamental rights, between transparency and privacy. This requires careful balancing given the fact that neither the right to privacy not the right to information is absolute.
• The idea of a fee to prevent frivolous appeals might pose a barrier to grievance redressal. Hence it is necessary to have a relook on the provisions dealing with penalties to encourage informed, alert and proactive participation from the masses.
• The government must not only notify new data rules at the earliest but must also ensure an orderly transition to new data rules once they are notified.

THE CONCLUSION: The Digital Personal Data Protection Act will not only create an essential framework of trust between individuals and enterprises processing their data but also set explicit norms for accountability and responsible data handling. It is a promising and welcome step as it addresses concerns like cross-border data transfer and remedies for unauthorised data processing. However, concerns about the way the new law deals with the rights to information and free speech, surveillance reform, and the regulatory structure need to be addressed.

Mains Practice Questions:

Q.1 Does the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023 erode the right to information and weaken the accountability of public servants to citizens? Critically analyse.

Q.2 Discuss the salient feature of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act 2023. Do you think that instead of protecting the privacy of individuals it creates a friendly regime for data processing? Argue.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. PM inaugurates Global Maritime India Summit 2023 READ MORE
2. SC declines to legalise same-sex marriage, says legislature to decide READ MORE
3. Kerala mulls planting bamboo along Munnar’s Gap Road to avert landslips READ MORE  
4. ST status for Meiteis was considered and rejected in 1982 and 2001, government records show READ MORE
5. How synergistic barriers are affecting progress on SDGs READ MORE
6. AI finds supernova, the biggest explosion in universe, first without human help READ MORE
7. India-Sri Lanka ferry service restarted after 40 yrs: Opportunities, challenges READ MORE
8. Scientists using AI to decode secrets of ancient Pompeii scroll READ MORE
9. Amazon forests threatened: 10% more wildfires than last year, environmental gains may be undone READ MORE
10. No health warnings on iron fortified rice: SC directs govt to respond in 4 weeks READ MORE  

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Why Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage verdict opens no doors for queer people READ MORE
2. Solve water woes to save TN growth target READ MORE
3. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Demolishing the frame from outside the Constitution READ MORE
2. Centralised procurement as a powerful health idea READ MORE
3. Law and custom: On the Supreme Court’s verdict on same-sex marriage READ MORE
4. Invoking the spectre of judicial legislation READ MORE
5. Empowered CAG: Guardian of public purse must stay independent READ MORE
6. Providing non-financial services to rural communities READ MORE
7. Electoral Bonds must be scrapped READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Food deprivation & hunger remain widespread in India READ MORE
2. Higher education at crossroads READ MORE
3. Transform learning READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. A ferry tale from the neighbourhood READ MORE
2. Building bridges READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. How to read India’s latest employment data READ MORE
2. Role of banks in a knowledge economy READ MORE
3. Gig workers law deepens industrial democracy READ MORE
4. Watch out for global headwinds READ MORE
5. Farm to fork: An overview of millet supply chains in India READ MORE
6. GM crops need more research READ MORE
7. Indian Agriculture has a problem. We farm too much for too little READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Climate lessons from G20 for Dubai COP28 READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI could redefine police techniques READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Localise strategies to build climate resilience READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Cybercrime surge: Focus on persistent vigil, collaborative efforts READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. This Quote Means: ‘Women… are fuelled by a will to survive’, from Iran’s Nobel Peace Prize winner READ MORE
2. The Buddha’s wisdom can help to heal the mind READ MORE
3. Supreme intelligence READ MORE
4. Civil servants who say no to scams are national icons READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions, the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters. Comment.
2. Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-independence period, India has yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy. Do you agree that transforming education into the practice of freedom is an effective way forward?
3. The Electoral Bonds scheme not only creates an uneven playing field for political parties but is a danger to our democracy. Comment.
4. The SHG federations with the existing panchayat-level committees has opportunities to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities. Comment.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• The Constitution’s identity is endangered not just by a textual transformation but also in the subversion of its liberal, democratic environment.
• Our real enemies are not men and women but suspicion, fear, hatred, violence and feeling of revenge and these enemies cannot be eliminated by military means.
• Discoms will be profitable only when they are unshackled from state controls and electricity distribution is deregulated.
• The goal should be to create more employers than employees, and it is hoped that “PM Vishwakarma” will help make this a reality.
• The SHG federations can work with the existing panchayat-level committees to contribute to the development process of the village to upgrade education, health, sanitation and infrastructure facilities.
• The SHG model is a flexible and comprehensive tool to steer holistic development services as opposed to only providing financial and livelihood services to SHG women.
• While women-led federations role in promoting empowerment and livelihoods promotion is well known, not much has been highlighted about the SHG federation’s work in providing non-financial and development services in their communities.
• As the threat of climate change grows stark in the Himalayan regions the Early Warning System should be deployed to avoid numerous disasters.
• The biggest concern for India right now is the decline in both merchandise exports and imports over the past eight months.
• If the Indian government remains convinced about not joining the RCEP, it must have strategic reasons, which is fine. But it must nevertheless address the ongoing outcomes of such a decision, and that’s where agility in policymaking comes in.
• Despite the emergence of numerous education policies in the post-Independence period, India is yet to generate an indigenous system of education that is propelled by rationality, scientific temper and empathy.
• Education has to set its epistemic and moral worth and the goals of education should be quality, equity and efficiency in learning outcomes.
• A level playing field in terms of educational opportunities and competition, coupled with affirmative action, can enhance classroom accountability.
• To integrate critical thinking, educational reform has to assimilate the willingness to be rationally critiqued and learning must inculcate the ability to question from different vantage points.
• One is the legalisation of anonymous donations, and the other is the violation of citizens’ right to information about the funding of parties.
• The legalisation of anonymous donations would amount to facilitation and legitimisation of corruption.
• In a democracy, the public have the right to know who funds parties because the funding may be used to influence policies.

50-WORD TALK

• As the threat of climate change grows stark, events like the recent glacial lake outburst flood that caused death and devastation in Sikkim are becoming frequent. This underlines the urgency of installing early warning systems in the fragile Himalayan range. Governments can no longer afford to ignore such red flags.
• Faced with a moral, legal and ethical dilemma, the Supreme Court walked on eggshells to reject a 26-week-old pregnant woman’s plea to abort her foetus on the ground that it risked her psychologically. The issue will be debated in the coming days as a prudent balance between competing fundamental rights.
• GIFT City has many infrastructural marvels, and attractive tax incentives. But, it’s nowhere near being the next Singapore. It needs to come out of Gujarat government’s shadows and allow a restriction-free, socially liberal lifestyle that youthful, global workforce thrives on. Relax prohibition, improve connectivity, housing, open spas, and golf courses.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: India’s Semiconductor Mission (ISM) is a government initiative launched in 2021 with a total financial outlay of Rs 76,000 crore (US$ 10 billion). The mission aims to build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem in India, and to make the country a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

WHAT ARE SEMICONDUCTORS?

Semiconductors are a class of materials that have electrical conductivity levels between those of conductors (materials that readily allow the flow of electric current) and insulators. Semiconductors play a crucial role in modern electronics and technology, as they are the foundation of various electronic devices, including transistors, diodes, integrated circuits (ICs), and more.

CHARACTERISTICS AND SIGNIFICANCE OF SEMICONDUCTORS

1. Conductivity: Semiconductors have a conductivity that falls between that of conductors and insulators. They are not as conductive as metals but are not as resistive as insulators.
2. Energy Band Structure: The behavior of electrons in semiconductors is described using energy bands. The valence band contains electrons that are tightly bound to atoms, while the conduction band contains electrons that are free to move and carry electric current. The energy gap between these bands determines whether a material is a conductor, semiconductor, or insulator.
3. Doping: Doping is the process of intentionally introducing impurities into a semiconductor material to modify its electrical properties. Two common types of doping are n-type (adding impurities with extra electrons) and p-type (adding impurities with fewer electrons). Doping allows for the controlled manipulation of electrical conductivity.
4. Electron and Hole Mobility: In semiconductors, electrons move through the conduction band, and “holes” (absence of electrons) move through the valence band. The mobility of these charge carriers influences the semiconductor’s conductivity.
5. Thermally Generated Carriers: At higher temperatures, some electrons gain enough energy to move from the valence band to the conduction band, creating electron-hole pairs. These thermally generated carriers contribute to the material’s conductivity.
6. Semiconductor Devices: Semiconductors are the basis for electronic devices like transistors, which amplify or switch electronic signals; diodes, which allow current to flow in only one direction; and integrated circuits (ICs), which pack numerous components onto a single chip.

Semiconductors have profoundly transformed the modern world by enabling the development of electronics and technology that have become integral to daily life. The ability to control and manipulate the electrical behavior of these materials has opened up a vast array of applications and continues to drive innovation in various fields.

INDIA’S JOURNEY IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY

The growth of the semiconductor industry in India is important for several reasons. First, semiconductors are essential for the production of a wide range of products, from smartphones to cars to medical devices. Second, the semiconductor industry is a high-tech industry that creates high-paying jobs. Third, the semiconductor industry is a strategic industry that can help India to reduce its dependence on imported electronics. India has the potential to become a major player in the global semiconductor industry. The country has a large pool of skilled engineers, a growing manufacturing base, and a supportive government. The ISM is a major step towards realizing India’s ambition to become a global leader in semiconductors.

INDIA’S SEMICONDUCTOR JOURNEY: A TIMELINE

1970

• The UN Development Programme (UNDP) partners with Indian institutes to build semiconductor technology capabilities.

1979

• The Central Electronics Engineering Research Institute (CEERI) is established in Pilani (Rajasthan).

1983

• The Semi-Conductors Laboratory (SCL) is established in Mohali (Punjab).

1988

• The Semiconductor Research and Development Center (SRDC) is established in Bangalore (Karnataka).

2007

• The Indian government announces a National Semiconductor Policy to boost the semiconductor industry.

2017

• The Indian government launches the Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) scheme to promote the manufacturing of electronics products in India.

2020

• The Indian government announces the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) to make India a global hub for semiconductor design, manufacturing, and testing.

2021

• Intel announces a $10 billion investment to set up a chip manufacturing plant in India.

INDIA’S SEMICONDUCTOR MISSION- 2021

India’s semiconductor industry has been on a growth trajectory over the past few years. The government of India has shown interest in promoting domestic semiconductor manufacturing and design capabilities to reduce dependence on imports, particularly for critical electronic components.

NATIONAL POLICY ON ELECTRONICS (NPE)

The NPE aims to promote electronics manufacturing in India, which includes semiconductor manufacturing. It seeks to encourage investment in electronics manufacturing and design, along with promoting research and development in the electronics sector.

ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CLUSTERS (EMC)

The Indian government has been setting up Electronics Manufacturing Clusters to create an ecosystem for electronics manufacturing, which includes semiconductor fabrication units.

INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Various research and development institutions and technology parks in India have been working on advancing semiconductor research, design, and manufacturing processes.

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Partnerships between the government and industry have been forged to boost the semiconductor ecosystem in India. These collaborations aim to enhance the research and development capabilities of the country.

SEMICONDUCTOR FABS

India has been exploring opportunities to establish semiconductor fabrication (fab) units within the country. Fabs are complex and capital-intensive facilities used for manufacturing semiconductor chips.

SKILL DEVELOPMENT

The development of skilled manpower in areas related to semiconductor design and manufacturing has been a focus. Initiatives include setting up training centers and programs to nurture talent in this field.

ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT

India has been actively seeking foreign investment and collaborations to accelerate the growth of its semiconductor industry.

NEED AND SCOPE OF PROMOTING SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY

• Technological Innovation: Semiconductors are at the heart of virtually all modern technologies, from smartphones and computers to medical devices and renewable energy systems. Promoting the semiconductor industry drives technological innovation and enables the development of cutting-edge products and solutions that improve people’s lives.
• Economic Growth: The semiconductor industry is a major contributor to global economic growth. It generates substantial revenue and creates high-value jobs in various sectors, including manufacturing, design, research, software development, and more. Countries with strong semiconductor industries often experience economic diversification and increased competitiveness.
• Global Competitiveness: Countries with a robust semiconductor industry are better positioned to compete globally in the high-tech sector. These industries contribute to a nation’s technological prowess and enhance its reputation as a hub for innovation.
• National Security: Many critical infrastructure systems, including those related to defense, transportation, communication, and energy, rely on semiconductor technology. A domestic semiconductor industry can enhance a country’s self-sufficiency and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers for critical components.
• Job Creation: The semiconductor industry supports a wide range of job opportunities, from skilled labor in manufacturing to highly specialized roles in research, design, and software development. By promoting the industry, countries can create employment opportunities across various skill levels.
• Research and Development: The semiconductor industry drives significant investment in research and development (R&D). Advances in semiconductor technology often lead to breakthroughs in other scientific disciplines, further contributing to societal progress.
• Education and Skill Development: Promoting the semiconductor industry encourages investments in education and skill development. This includes training programs, academic partnerships, and initiatives to cultivate a skilled workforce capable of contributing to advanced technologies.
• Emerging Technologies: As technology evolves, new semiconductor materials, processes, and architectures are required to meet the demands of emerging fields like quantum computing, advanced sensors, and nanotechnology.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DOMESTIC SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING FOR INDIA

The significance of domestic semiconductor manufacturing for India is multi-faceted and extends to various sectors of the economy, technological innovation, national security, and overall development. Here are some key reasons why domestic semiconductor manufacturing is crucial for India:

• Reduce dependence on imports:India currently imports most of its semiconductors, which makes it vulnerable to supply chain disruptions and price volatility. Domestic manufacturing can help to reduce India’s dependence on imports and make the country more self-reliant in the semiconductor sector.
• Create jobs: The semiconductor industry is a high-tech industry that requires a skilled workforce. Domestic manufacturing can help to create jobs in the semiconductor sector, which can boost economic growth and development.
• Promote innovation:The semiconductor industry is a constantly evolving industry that requires innovation to stay ahead of the curve. Domestic manufacturing can help to promote innovation in the semiconductor sector, which can lead to new products and technologies that can benefit India’s economy.
• Strengthen national security:Semiconductors are essential for many critical applications, such as defense and telecommunications. Domestic manufacturing can help to strengthen India’s national security by reducing its dependence on foreign suppliers of semiconductors.
• Attract foreign investment:The semiconductor industry is a global industry, and attracting foreign investment is essential for the growth of the domestic semiconductor industry in India. Domestic manufacturing can help to attract foreign investment by creating a more favorable investment climate for semiconductor companies.

Overall, domestic semiconductor manufacturing is essential for India’s economic and technological development. It can help to reduce dependence on imports, create jobs, promote innovation, strengthen national security, and attract foreign investment.

WHY IS THERE A GLOBAL RACE TO DIVERSIFY SEMICONDUCTOR SUPPLY CHAINS?

There are a few reasons why there is a global race to diversify semiconductor supply chains.

• The COVID-19 pandemic:The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of global supply chains. The pandemic caused disruptions to the production and transportation of semiconductors, leading to shortages of chips in a wide range of industries. This has made countries realize the importance of having more diversified supply chains to reduce their vulnerability to disruptions.
• The US-China trade war:The US-China trade war has also contributed to the drive to diversify semiconductor supply chains. The trade war has led to restrictions on the export of semiconductors from China to the US, which has made the US more reliant on other countries for its supply of chips.
• The rise of China:China is emerging as a major player in the semiconductor industry. China is investing heavily in semiconductor manufacturing, and it is becoming increasingly self-sufficient in terms of its chip supply. This has led to concerns in the US and other countries that China could use its control of the semiconductor supply chain as a strategic weapon.
• The increasing demand for semiconductors: The demand for semiconductors is growing rapidly, driven by the growth of the automotive, electronics, and telecommunications industries. This increasing demand is putting a strain on the global semiconductor supply chain, and it is making it more difficult for countries to secure the chips they need.

WHAT ARE THE INITIATIVES RELATED TO SEMICONDUCTORS AT THE GLOBAL LEVEL?

The various countries and organizations have launched initiatives related to semiconductors to promote their development, manufacturing, and innovation. These initiatives aim to address challenges in the semiconductor industry, enhance supply chain resilience, and advance technology capabilities.

1. European Union: Digital Compass and Digital Europe Programme: The European Union has launched the “Digital Compass” strategy, which includes targets for semiconductor manufacturing, R&D investment, and digital skills development. The “Digital Europe Programme” aims to invest in advanced digital technologies, including semiconductors, to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty.
2. United States: CHIPS Act and American Jobs Plan: The “Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act” (CHIPS Act) proposes financial incentives to stimulate semiconductor manufacturing in the U.S. The “American Jobs Plan” includes funding for semiconductor research and development, as well as supply chain resilience.
3. China: National Integrated Circuit Industry Development Guidelines: China has launched multiple initiatives to develop its semiconductor industry, including the National Integrated Circuit Industry Development Guidelines. These initiatives emphasize indigenous chip design, manufacturing, and research.
4. Japan: Moonshot R&D Initiative and Japan’s Growth Strategy: Japan’s “Moonshot R&D Initiative” focuses on technological breakthroughs in key areas, including semiconductors. The country’s growth strategy includes support for semiconductor manufacturing and innovation.
5. Taiwan: National Development Strategy for the Semiconductor Industry: Taiwan’s government supports its semiconductor industry through various programs, including research funding, talent development, and industry collaboration.
6. Global Partnerships: Various international collaborations aim to address semiconductor challenges collectively. For example, the “Global Semiconductor Alliance” (GSA) fosters collaboration among semiconductor companies worldwide.

These initiatives represent the efforts by the countries and regions are making to enhance their semiconductor capabilities and the rapidly evolving nature of the semiconductor industry.

INDIA’S COLLABORATION WITH OTHER COUNTRIES ON SEMICONDUCTOR POLICIES

India has been collaborating with various countries on semiconductor policies and initiatives to enhance its semiconductor manufacturing and design capabilities. These collaborations aim to leverage the expertise, resources, and technology of partner countries to accelerate the growth of India’s semiconductor industry.

1. Japan: India and Japan have been working together to strengthen their semiconductor industries. The “India-Japan Semiconductor & Electronics Partnership” was launched to promote collaboration in research, development, and manufacturing in the semiconductor sector.
2. Taiwan: India and Taiwan have been exploring collaboration opportunities in semiconductor manufacturing and technology. Taiwan, being a major player in the semiconductor industry, has the potential to offer technical expertise and support.
3. United States: India has engaged in discussions with the United States on various aspects of technology and innovation, including semiconductors. Collaboration with U.S. companies and research institutions can help India access cutting-edge technology and expertise.
4. Israel: India and Israel have explored opportunities for collaboration in technology and innovation, including semiconductors. Israel’s strength in research and development could complement India’s efforts in semiconductor design and manufacturing.
5. European Union: India has engaged with the European Union on technology and innovation partnerships. Collaboration with EU member states could lead to knowledge exchange and joint research projects in the semiconductor field.
6. Singapore: India and Singapore have explored avenues for cooperation in the semiconductor industry, including knowledge sharing, joint research projects, and investment opportunities.
7. South Korea: Collaboration with South Korea has been discussed to promote technology transfer and knowledge sharing in the semiconductor sector.

These collaborations are to multiple aspects for the semiconductor industry, including research, manufacturing, skill development, and policy formulation. The goal is to leverage the strengths of partner countries to accelerate India’s semiconductor capabilities and reduce its reliance on semiconductor imports.

WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES FOR SEMICONDUCTORS SUPPLY CHAIN BY INDIA?

• Lack of Semiconductor Fabs: One of the primary challenges for India is the absence of advanced semiconductor fabrication facilities (fabs). Fabs are complex and expensive to establish, requiring significant investments in infrastructure, technology, and expertise. Without domestic fabs, India would heavily rely on imports for its semiconductor supply.
• Technological Expertise: Developing and maintaining semiconductor manufacturing expertise requires specialized skills and knowledge. India would need to invest in training and education to ensure a skilled workforce capable of managing advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Infrastructure: Semiconductor manufacturing demands a reliable infrastructure, including clean room facilities, stable electricity supply, water resources, and efficient transportation networks. Developing and maintaining this infrastructure to global standards can be a challenge.
• Supply Chain Vulnerabilities: India’s semiconductor supply chain could be vulnerable to disruptions due to global events such as supply shortages, geopolitical tensions, and natural disasters. Diversifying suppliers and ensuring supply chain resilience is crucial.
• Intellectual Property and Patents: Semiconductor technology involves a significant amount of intellectual property and patented technology. Navigating IP rights and negotiating licensing agreements can be complex and may impact the cost and feasibility of setting up semiconductor production.
• Market Demand and Fluctuations: Predicting market demand for semiconductors accurately can be challenging due to fluctuations in technology trends, consumer preferences, and global economic conditions. Overestimating or underestimating demand could affect the viability of investments.
• Regulatory and Environmental Factors: Semiconductor manufacturing involves the use of hazardous materials and consumes energy and water. Ensuring compliance with environmental regulations while maintaining efficient production processes can be a balancing act.
• Investment and Funding: Establishing a semiconductor supply chain requires significant investments, both from the government and private sector. Securing adequate funding and managing financial risks are important factors in the success of such initiatives.

THE WAY FORWARD

ADVANTAGES OF INDIA

• Large pool of talented engineers and technicians
• Strong educational system producing skilled workforce
• Cost-effective labor compared to other semiconductor manufacturing hubs
• Favorable government policies attracting foreign investment
• Strong presence of IT and electronics industries
• Increasing domestic demand for electronics and semiconductors
• Strong network of research and development institutions

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

• Establishment of semiconductor manufacturing plants
• Improvement of power supply and infrastructure facilities
• Development of specialized industrial parks for the semiconductor industry
• Collaboration with global semiconductor companies for technology transfer
• Investment in semiconductor research and development centers
• Development of semiconductor testing and assembly facilities

R&D AND INNOVATION

• Strengthen collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions
• Investment in semiconductor research and development
• Focus on emerging technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and 5G
• Encourage startups and entrepreneurship in the semiconductor industry
• Promote intellectual property rights protection and innovation-friendly policies

SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION

• Enhance technical education and training programs focused on semiconductor industry
• Establish partnerships between industry and educational institutes
• Encourage international collaborations and exchange programs
• Foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the semiconductor field
• Provide scholarships and financial assistance for students pursuing semiconductor-related courses

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT AND POLICIES

• Simplify regulatory procedures for semiconductor manufacturing and investment
• Offer tax incentives and subsidies to attract semiconductor companies
• Create a business-friendly environment for semiconductor industry
• Develop policies promoting local manufacturing and reducing import dependence
• Collaborate with other countries and international organizations for knowledge sharing and technology transfer

COLLABORATION AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

• Strengthen partnerships with leading semiconductor manufacturing countries
• Explore technology collaboration with global semiconductor giants
• Provide support to other developing countries in establishing semiconductor hubs
• Participate in international forums and conferences for knowledge sharing
• Promote export of Indian semiconductor products to global markets

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

• Promote sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing practices
• Invest in renewable energy sources for semiconductor manufacturing
• Develop waste management and recycling systems for semiconductor industry
• Encourage research and development of energy-efficient semiconductor technologies

MARKET DEVELOPMENT

• Identify and target emerging markets for semiconductor products
• Encourage domestic manufacturing and reduce import dependency
• Develop a robust supply chain for semiconductor industry
• Strengthen indigenous semiconductor product development and manufacturing capabilities
• Foster collaborations between Indian and global semiconductor companies for market expansion

THE CONCLUSION: India has immense potential to become a global semiconductor hub and strategic investment in infrastructure, R&D, education, and government support is crucial. Collaboration and international cooperation will accelerate India’s growth in the semiconductor industry. It is focus on innovation, skill development, and sustainable practices will drive India’s success in the global semiconductor market.

UPSC MAINS QUESTION

Q.1 What are the major challenges faced by India to become a global semiconductor hub? What steps are being taken by Government of India in that direction?

Q.2 Discuss the potential and significance of India becoming the global semiconductor hub.

“Technology has become a key driver of future wars.”

THE INTRODUCTION: Hybrid warfare is a military strategy in which conventional means are employed and integrated with unconventional methods to achieve dominance or inflict damage, to subvert or influence or to wage war.  Hybrid wars use multi-domain warfighting approaches, including cyberattacks, disinformation and subversion, economic blackmail and sabotage and sponsorship of proxy forces to destabilise a society or a nation by influencing its decision-making process without resorting to traditional conflict. This article analyses various aspects of the hybrid war, measures taken and what needs to be done to deal with this evolving threat.

CHANGING PHASE OF THE WARFARE

• Warfare is a dynamic and evolving concept going through various changes with time. Technology has been a major factor in this evolution and a determining factor.
• Without going into the historical aspect, we can trace the recent changing perspective of the war after world war 2, when nuclear weapons became the base of the Cold War between two superpowers.
• After the dissolution of the USSR, the legitimacy threat of the nuclear war was felt as a powerful nuclear nation like the USSR was not able to maintain the unity of its nation.
• It is said that technology is a double-edged sword. With the evolution of the Digital era, the negative externalities of technology became visible. As data more and more become available in the invisible cyberspace whether it is private data, organisational data or national data, the threat loomed with a multiplier effect.
• Now emerging technologies like Industrial Revolution 4.0, Artificial intelligence, and cyber threats are posing new threats to national security.
• Whether it is AI, or computing power, or satellite imagery and secure data transmission, or round-the-clock transparency on the battlefield, these new-age niche technologies are revolutionary to the future planning and conduct of warfare.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONVENTIONAL WARFARE AND HYBRID WARFARE

CONVENTIONAL WARFARE

• Dominated by military might
• Normally deterrence works in Conventional war
• It is mostly interstate war
• It is dominated by nuclear weapons where coercive and hard power is used against an opponent
• It needs state power to deal with this
• Capital intensive warfare-relying only on hard ‘metal on metal’ battles.

HYBRID WARFARE

• It is mix of Military and Digital — an information-psychological element that forms the basis of ‘hybrid warfare’ with the aim to influence primarily public consciousness, rather than the armed forces or the State’s infrastructure.
• Normally deterrence doesn’t work
• It is against the state, private players as well as organisations
• It is multi-layered war including cyber to aerospace, precision munitions to unmanned platforms, hyper-Sonics to autonomous systems, AI and quantum computing to blockchain technologies
• It needs comprehensive national power- in terms of multi-pronged and multi-stakeholder approach including states, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and private firms.
• Asymmetry Warfare—Weaker powers with less money and firepower stand a good chance to win wars

VARIOUS TYPES OF TECHNOLOGIES AS THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY

AUTONOMOUS SYSTEMS: Described as systems that can perform tasks in a changing environment with limited human intervention or control.

• Autonomous systems present a growing attack surface for malicious cyber actors because of their dependence on software, computing, and connectivity. At the same time, they can also be vulnerable to supply chain disruptions or exploitation by adversaries. Given the broad data that many of these systems collect, they are also likely to be ripe targets for foreign intelligence collection.

o    E.g.-Autonomous Vehicles from China have been included in the List of US National Security Threats as it gathers a lot of information.

• Drones present a unique challenge to the security organisations. In the wrong hands, regular consumer drones can be used as lethal weapons. It enables terrorists to plan, coordinate and launch a vast range of deadly and potentially disruptive attacks against civilians, soft targets, and critical infrastructure.
• The number of non-state actors already using aerial drones has steadily increased over the past several years. Through rapid advances in drone technology, AROS is slated to become a primary tactic of terrorist attacks in the future.

GENERATIVE AI

There has been a significant increase in cyber tools and services over the next five years that “will have a profound impact on the threat landscape, as more state and non-state actors obtain capabilities and intelligence not previously available to them.

• Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs): A sophisticated, sustained cyberattack occurs when an intruder enters a network undetected, remaining for a long time to steal sensitive data. They frequently involve the use of AI to avoid detection and target specific organizations or individuals.
• AI-powered malware: Malware that uses AI has been taught to think for itself, adapt its course of action in response to the situation, and particularly target its victims’ systems.
• Phishing: Using natural language processing and machine learning, attackers create convincing phishing emails and messages that are designed to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information.
• Deepfake attacks: These employ artificial intelligence-generated synthetic media, such as fake images, videos, or audio recordings that are indistinguishable from real ones. They can be used to impersonate people in authority within a company, such as a CEO or network administrators or even used to spread false information, which can be used for malicious purposes.

INFORMATION WARFARE

• Information warfare is the manipulation of information trusted by a target without the target’s awareness so that the target will make decisions against their interest but in the interest of the one conducting information warfare.

o    E.g. In parallel with setting up secret military training camps, ISIL established missionary offices spreading their Salafi message in local communities as well as gathering information on all social structures. This information was utilized to target political and military opposition.

CYBER THREATS SUBVERTING THE DEMOCRACY

• Cyber-enabled information operations are clearly of unique concern for modern democratic societies.
  • E.g. May 2014 the Russian hacker group CyberBerkut exploited cyber vulnerabilities (routers, software and hard drives) of the Ukrainian National Election Commission to undermine the credibility of the elections.

QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Quantum technologies can pose national security challenges. A large-scale quantum computer could potentially allow for the decryption of the most commonly used cybersecurity protocols. Thus it  put at risk the cyber infrastructure protecting today’s economic and national security communications.
• In short, whoever wins the race for quantum computing supremacy could potentially compromise the communications of others.

BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

• The use of cryptocurrencies on the darknet for terror acts, drug trafficking, and other illicit activities poses a serious threat to India’s national security and a big threat to security agencies as well.
• Cryptocurrencies have emerged as one of the most advanced methods for terror financing. And when it is transacted on the darknet through networks like TOR, Freenet, Zeronet, and Perfectdark, it becomes untraceable for security officials.

VARIOUS TYPES OF CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIA

• Cyber-attacks on Critical infrastructure: An adversary can pressure the government to concede to its demands by threatening devastating cyber-attacks aimed at information infrastructure, such as networks governing hospitals or electricity and water supplies.
  • Chinese cyber-attacks on Indian military installations during the Pakistani retaliation to Indian Air Force’s attack on terror camps in Balakot on February 26, 2019.
• Online radicalisation: In 2020 there were multiple reports in the media and from the NIA of suspected cases of online terrorist radicalization, particularly in southern Indian states. It leads to communalism, naxalism and separatism in the long run.
• Electoral interference: In a way to sabotage the democratic institution 2001 parliament attack was done. However, with a hybrid war scenario, there are various threats to the election process. Election machinery could be attacked. Data could be stolen, information leaked and systems brought to a standstill. There could be hacks into databases, and cyber-attacks on election war rooms and critical Election Commission (EC) infrastructure.
• Misinformation: various types of misinformation like international misinformation, such as visuals of Vladimir Putin in Buddhist garb generated by artificial intelligence, or communal misinformation, such as an old video presenting alleged caste atrocities being presented as a recent development has been promoting falsehoods and fuelling protests against a section of people.
• State-sponsored cyber-attacks: India has been at the receiving end of state-sponsored terrorism (proxy war) from Pakistan and cyber threats from China. China furthers its national objectives through the use of non-contact warfare, including cyber warfare, electronic warfare, integrated network electronic warfare, information operations, and the ‘three warfare strategy’ (psychological, media, and legal warfare).
• New forms of terrorist attacks such as ‘lone-wolf’ and ‘sleeper cells’: These attacks are extremely difficult to detect and, in most cases, the financial and ideological source remains anonymous.
• Data Theft: It is the illegal transfer or storage of personal, confidential, or financial information.
  • Pakistan-based group Transparent Tribe has been conducting cyber-attacks against the Indian Army and the education sector. The group is believed to be attempting to obtain sensitive information via the malicious file ‘Revision of Officers posting policy’, which is disguised as a legitimate document.

MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY INDIA

FOR THE SECURITY OF DEFENCE SYSTEMS FROM CYBER THREAT

• India has established the defence cyber and space agencies and the Armed Forces Special Operations Division.  If India were to establish integrated theatre commands, the inter-services theatre commander will need to be given autonomy to coordinate cyber and electronic warfare for greater network centricity of the tri-services down to the tactical level.

INTEGRATED THEATRE COMMANDS

• On the recommendations of several committees like the Kargil War Committee, Naresh Chandra Committee, Shekatkar Committee etc., India will see its first Integrated Theatre Commands (ITC) in August 2023. The maritime ITC is likely to be in Karnataka and will be under naval command.

CYBERWARFARE AND DEFENCE CAPABILITIES

• India’s structure of surveillance and monitoring cyber capabilities are decentred and characterised by multiple agencies:-
  • Central Monitoring System: Central Monitoring System (CMS) gives India’s security agencies and income tax officials centralized access to the country’s telecommunications network. It helps in the lawful interception and monitoring of communications.
  • National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) is the lead body responsible for technical intelligence in India. The NTRO reports to the National Security Adviser and falls under the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre, which is deemed as the designated nodal agency (under Section 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000) to protect all critical information infrastructure.
  • Defence Research and Development Organisation: Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) is a premier laboratory of DRDO involved in Research and Development in the areas of Artificial Intelligence.
  • National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC): It is an organisation of the Government of India created under Section 70A of the Information Technology Act, 2000: It provides the strategic leadership to the government’s efforts to “reduce vulnerabilities against cyber terrorism, cyber warfare and other threats.
  • Computer Emergency Response Team–India (CERT–IN) is responsible for protecting all noncritical information infrastructure and collecting all reports on cyber attacks and incidents. It is also supposed to serve as the national agency for incident response under Section 70B of the Information Technology Act, of 2000.

ANTI-SATELLITE MISSILE CAPABILITY

• In 2019, India successfully test-fired an anti-satellite missile (Mission Shakti), thereby joining a small group of countries i.e. the US, Russia and China, to possess such a capability.

THE WAY FORWARD

• India must develop a ‘whole of government’ approach to tackle hybrid warfare threats from its adversaries. For instance, a coordinated ‘grand plan’ encompassing all ministries, can be used to address such risks.
• India must boost the military’s capabilities (through a specialised force with appropriate skills training) to tackle hybrid threats. ISR capabilities, particularly in the space and ariel dimensions, will need to be developed further.
• The armed forces must prioritise information warfare capabilities (including psychological operations, and electronic and cyber warfare) at all levels. It must also prepare to induct new technologies into its warfighting capacities, including artificial intelligence, and hypersonic and quantum sciences, which must be backed by adequate government support and the military’s willingness to accept indigenous products.
• The parliamentary standing committee on finance has proposed a legislation with India’s national security considerations at the core. The chairman of the committee pointed out that terror financing using cryptos poses domestic security threats. Investors have to be watchful regarding the circumstances revolving around cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
• Need to include the private sector: It will help in innovating new technologies to deal with the hybrid war. As it can be seen in the Recent Ukraine Crisis, various tech giants like Google, Meta etc. helped Ukraine with their expertise.
• International Cooperation: The need of the hour is to calibrate strategic and operational level responses by establishing an international framework to facilitate cooperation and collaboration across borders, develop institutional measures, estimate threats, upgrade the armed forces by providing training etc.
  • The Global Counter-Terrorism Programme on Autonomous and Remotely Operated Systems (AROS Programme) was created in 2021 to support member states in addressing the threat posed by drones, UAS, and other AROS.

THE CONCLUSION: Hybrid warfare can be tackled through Comprehensive National Power (CNP). CNP includes a strong economy; military strength; governance; human capital; science & technology; geography and natural resources; foreign policy and diplomacy; and, national will and conscientious leadership.  It can be developed with a multi-stakeholder approach including government agencies, the private sector and civil society. In this digital era, multidimensional hybrid war threat has to be dealt with for a comprehensive secure environment.

Mains Question:

Q.1 With the evolving nature of war, what are the key elements of Hybrid warfare and how it poses a threat to the security landscape of the country?

Q.2 Analyse the steps taken by the government to deal with the Hybrid Warfare.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Ministry of Ayush’s endeavours towards Special Campaign 3.0 gear up READ MORE
2. Notification issued for Green Credit Program (GCP) and Ecomark scheme Under LiFE Initiative to Promote Sustainable Lifestyle and Environmental Conservation READ MORE
3. Indian Railways’ PSUs, RITES Ltd and IRCON granted Navratna status READ MORE  
4. India’s 1st CAR-T cell therapy developed by ImmunoACT gets CDSCO nod READ MORE
5. CJI says India’s abortion law is liberal, pro-choice and far ahead of other countries READ MORE
6. Government mulls partnerships to make semiconductor chips READ MORE
7. What is Australia’s Indigenous Voice referendum? READ MORE
8. Farmers lost $3.8 trillion to disasters over 30 years: FAO’s first-ever global estimation READ MORE  
9. More than half of world’s poor out of safety net coverage, says World Bank READ MORE
10. World’s water cycle severely impacted by climate change and human activities in 2022: WMO READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Parents and educators must reduce student stress READ MORE
2. Changed outlook READ MORE
3. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Testing the waters for General Elections 2024 READ MORE
2. Democracy dies when justice suffers READ MORE
3. 16th Finance Commission’s political challenge READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Hunger pangs: Alarming findings of 2023 global index READ MORE
2. India Ranks 111 in Global Hunger Index; Report Makers Reject Indian Government Objections READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Balancing policy: On Israel, Palestine and India’s line: India must pressure Israel to act responsibly in the face of terror READ MORE
2. A war that ends the Saudi-Israel ‘normalisation’ process READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Claudia Goldin’s quiet revolution: How she helped feminise economic enquiry READ MORE
2. Why we must cheer the Nobel for Goldin READ MORE
3. The economic mosaic: Chugging along at the ‘new-old normal’ growth rate READ MORE
4. DC Edit | Inflation falls, RBI still cautious READ MORE
5. Role of Banks in Promoting Risky Financial Assets READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Clearing the air: Contrary to general perception, there is no change in India’s stand on Palestine READ MORE
2. Meeting the Goals of the Paris Agreement READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI could redefine police techniques READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Localise strategies to build climate resilience READ MORE
2. India’s cyclone warning system is the model for disaster-proofing the country. Floods next READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Working and praying READ MORE
2. Narges’ Nobel and the all-pervasive fear of freedom READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Repeated elections have a cost, but the benefits of enhanced democracy that they trigger are far greater. Critically examine the statement in the light of recent debate about One Nation, One Election.
2. India is diverse, with different regions confronting diverse issues, and that impacts politics in the states. In light of statement, how far do you agree with this view that the concept of One Nation, One Election goes against the reality of India’s diversity?
3. Balancing growth and inflation is a complex endeavour, requiring a steady hand on the economic tiller. Discuss how India can this balance in the ongoing uncertain global economic landscape?
4. Assessing vulnerabilities is the first step in reducing disaster risk. In light of recent disasters in the Himalayan region, discuss how the climate resilience approach in infrastructure development can minimize the disaster risk in that region.
5. The bureaucracy delivers on episodic events like conducting elections, which have a clear exit date but when it comes to daily events such as provision of civic amenities, the result is deeply unsatisfactory. Do you think that the division of bureaucracy between the three levels of government is a likely reason for such unamenities?
6. Modern states have evolved from directly running factories to regulating economic activity and for that, the Indian government need to revisit the bureaucracy’s recruitment process and should focus on more domain expertise. Discuss.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable.
• Delhi’s history of intervening positively also led to the ironical consternation of the Maldivian opposition parties who started a disquiet campaign against the Maldivian Government’s traditional ‘India First’ policy to suggest a compromise to Maldivian sovereignty.
• Democracy weakens when the people’s choice is not based on who will represent their interests and fulfil their aspirations.
• Democracy is always in a state of flux and not in its ideal form.
• To strengthen democracy, politics needs to be more accountable.
• Having one election every five years will make political parties more unaccountable and free to fulfil the agenda of vested interests. That will weaken democracy and cost the nation far more than the direct and indirect costs of elections at present.
• Even if India had a perfect democracy, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea assumes homogeneity in the nation.
• A one-size-fits-all approach goes against the reality of the nation’s diversity and can lead to severe political backlash.
• The reality is that India has an imperfect democracy that needs to be strengthened.
• Elections are the times when the public can force political parties to become answerable.
• Repeated elections have a cost, but the benefits of enhanced democracy that they trigger are far greater.
• No farmers’ company can address climatic aberrations amidst a changing climate, broken landscapes, tattered ecologies and market volatilities unless supported by policies and incentives.
• Balancing growth and inflation is a complex endeavour, requiring a steady hand on the economic tiller.
• Ever since the artificial intelligence chatbot GPT technology burst on the global computer media scene suggesting its multifarious applications and uses in almost any area of human endeavour.
• If the ASEAN has to remain relevant, it needs to reinvent itself to suit the changing regional environment.
• Shortage of workers is pushing the demand for farm equipment. India can dominate the world market by leveraging its machine tools.
• The UN has the responsibility to resolve conflicts. But its failure should not be taken as an opportunity to abet terrorism in the name of freedom.
• It is crucial to re-evaluate building typologies and focus on developing climate-resilient designs.
• The bureaucracy delivers on episodic events like conducting elections, which have a clear exit date. But when it comes to daily events such as provision of civic amenities, the result is deeply unsatisfactory.

50-WORD TALK

• Instead of issuing defensive reactions to the Global Hunger Index, the government should instead engage with the root issue—nutrition. India might not have the empty-bellied hunger such indices imply, but it does have widespread and severe malnutrition and anaemia. Free foodgrain alleviates hunger, but balanced meals are what Indians need.
• Israel cannot carpet bomb Gaza into rubble. It has a right to defend itself and respond to terrorism, but indiscriminately targeting civilian areas isn’t the way. Israel will find it increasingly difficult to have the unambiguous support of its allies. It also risks ceding Middle East leadership role to Iran.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: In the recently concluded Monsoon Session, the Parliament has passed the Mediation Bill, 2021. The Bill provides a system of mediation for improving justice delivery. This article examines the Bill critically to enable the students in developing the right perspective.

WHAT IS MEDIATION AND HOW IS IT CONDUCTED?

• Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) refers to how disputes are settled outside the traditional court system. In India, modes of ADR include arbitration, negotiation, mediation, and Lok Adalats.
• ADR mechanism is quicker, cheaper, and more user-friendly than courts. It gives people an alternative way of resolving their disputes which is not possible in a public, formal and adversarial judicial system.
• Mediation is a voluntary process in which parties try to settle disputes with the assistance of an independent third person or the mediator. A mediator does not impose a solution on the parties but creates a conducive environment in which they can resolve their dispute.
• The mediation process depends on the choice of parties, and there are no strict or binding rules of procedure.
• Benefits of mediation include its voluntary and non-adversarial nature, the flexibility and confidentiality of the process, its speed and cost-effectiveness, and the finality of consensual settlements.

Existing Provisions for Mediation:

• At present, mediation in India may be:

1. Court referred: The courts may refer cases to mediation under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.

2. Court Annexed mediation centres: Mediation services are provided by private ADR centres or mediation centres, as well as centres set up by courts or tribunals.

3. Private, for instance, under a contract having a mediation clause and one of the examples is International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC) in Hyderabad for resolving commercial disputes and between Government of Telangana and common public.

4. As provided under a specific statute such as the Commercial Courts Act, 2015, the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, or the Companies Act, 2013, Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.

THE SALIENT FEATURES OF THE BILL

VOLUNTARY MEDIATION

• Under this provision, mediation is a voluntary process, allowing parties to choose whether or not to pursue pre-litigation mediation for resolving their disputes.

DISPUTES NOT FIT FOR MEDIATION

• The Bill contains a list of disputes which are not fit for mediation.
• These include disputes:

              1. relating to claims against minors or persons of unsound mind,

             2. involving criminal prosecution, and

             3. affecting the rights of third parties.

The central government may amend this list.

APPLICABILITY

• The Bill will apply to mediations conducted in India:

1. involving only domestic parties

          2. involving at least one foreign party and relating to a commercial dispute (i.e., international mediation)

          3. if the mediation agreement states that mediation will be as per this Bill.

• If the central or state government is a party, the Bill will apply to:

               1. commercial disputes

               2. other disputes as notified.

TIMELY COMPLETION OF MEDIATION PROCESS

• The mediation Bill states that proceedings must be completed within 180 days and this includes the extension period.

APPOINTMENT OF MEDIATORS

• Mediators may be appointed by:

               1. the parties by agreement

               2. a mediation service provider (an institution administering mediation).

• They must disclose any conflict of interest that may raise doubts on their independence.  Parties may then choose to replace the mediator.

MEDIATION COUNCIL OF INDIA

• The Bill establishes the Mediation Council of India.
• The Council will consist of a chairperson, two full-time members (with experience in mediation or ADR), three ex-officio members (including the Law Secretary, and the Expenditure Secretary), and a part-time member from an industry body.
• Functions of the Council include:

              1. registering mediators

             2. recognising mediation service providers and mediation institutes

             3. grading mediation service providers

             4. laying down standards for professional conduct of mediators, mediation service providers, and mediation institutes.

FINAL AND BINDING

• Agreements resulting from mediation (other than community mediation) will be final, binding, and enforceable in the same manner as court judgments.
• They may be challenged on grounds of:

              1. fraud

             2. corruption

             3. impersonation

             4. relating to disputes not fit for mediation.

COMMUNITY MEDIATION

• Community mediation aims to resolve disputes likely to affect the peace and harmony amongst residents of a locality.
• It will be conducted by a panel of three mediators (may include persons of standing in the community, and representatives of resident welfare associations).

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BILL

LEGAL RECOGNITION

• The Bill is expected to give a legal framework to a mode of dispute resolution that has largely been informal so far.
• The legal intervention would provide statutory recognition to mediation and enable growth of a culture of settlement of disputes, out of court.

EASE OF DOING BUSINESS AND PEACE AND HARMONY

• Another striking feature of the Bill is community mediation that may be attempted to resolve dispute which likely to affect the peace and harmony among residents of a locality and will create conducive environment for businesses.
• The Bill also has provisions for settlement of commercial disputes to ensure that mediators are able to handle complex commercial disputes arising out of business dealings, thereby creating confidence in the business community.
• It not only helps in preserving the relationship amongst the parties offering ease of business but also contributing in the growth of the economy.

ENFORCE ABILITY OF AWARDS

• The mediation Bill seeks to institutionalise mediation and provide for enforcement of settlement agreements resulting from mediation as an alternative to litigation in the courts.

CONFIDENTIALITY

• India has a litigant society where individuals, governments and institutions resort to litigation and take even simple disputes to court.
• In this respect, maintaining confidentiality is must, and will the Bill is non-adversarial in nature and based on consent which ensure confidentiality. Also, the process is more flexible than other resolution routes.

ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

• As India is a signatory to the Singapore Convention on Mediation

(formally the United Nations Convention on International Settlement Agreements Resulting from Mediation), it is appropriate to enact a law governing domestic and international mediation.

MEDIATION AND ACCESS TO JUSTICE

As per Article 21 of the Constitution, access to justice is a constitutional right which cannot be fettered or restricted. In this respect, mediation can help promote easy and speedy justice delivery in the following ways.

COST EFFECTIVE

• Mediation is a cost-effective dispute resolution process because it is much cheaper, it can help to curb the upward spiral of legal costs and legal aid expenditure too, which would benefit the parties and the taxpayers.

FASTER PROCESS

• This Bill makes the process a time-bound mechanism which saves time and money of parties by bringing down the time period to 180 days in total.
• As this process is faster than that of the courts, it reduces the burden on the courts.

LESSEN HUGE PENDENCY

• The courts are weighed down by a huge backlog of cases and at the present pace of work, it will take decades to clear the backlog.
• The Bill has been conceived as a help for unclogging courts reeling under massive pendency of cases by providing an institutional mechanism to promote mediation before a dispute is taken to the court.
• The Bill also aims to reduce the burden on courts by encouraging warring parties to resolve their own disputes with the assistance of trained mediators and mediations facilitated by authorised mediation institutions

ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE

• As, the courts are costly and time taking, many people couldn’t afford going to courts which is unfair to them. But justice is not something that belong to a class of people, it has to be accessible to all irrespective of any economic status, etc, without any discrimination.
• The Bill has expanded the possibility of better availability and increased access to mediation.

FLEXIBLE AND RESPONSIVE

• The mediation Bill provides for enough flexibility and is responsive for both the parties to give them opportunity to tell their part of the stories which ensures equality of justice.

 CRITICISM OF THE BILL

EXCLUSION OF GOVERNMENT

• The Bill excludes governments which is one of the biggest litigants, from the scope of civil mediation.
• It defeats the purpose of the Bill and governments shouldn’t get special treatment and should be treated as ordinary litigants.

EXCLUSION OF LAWS

• The Bill excludes some laws, such as the law on Family Courts Act, 1984, The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007 and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, 2013.
• These are disputes where sensitive relationships are involved and the adversarial processes therein may be misused.
• Hence a choice of forum is necessary for effective justice delivery in these cases.

NO PROVISION FOR ENFORCING CERTAIN INTERNATIONAL MEDIATED SETTLEMENTS

• The Bill will apply to international mediation only if they are conducted in India.
• It does not provide for enforcement of settlement agreements resulting from international mediation conducted outside India.
• It can affect India’s image in the international scenario as India being a party to Singapore convention.

LACK OF REPRESENTATION OF PRACTICING MEDIATORS IN THE COUNCIL

• The extent of mediation competence in the Mediation Council that is to be set up is inadequate as only one member among the entire Council is compulsorily required to have the knowledge of mediation law.
• The Mediation Council, established to regulate the profession of mediators, may not have representation of practising mediators with adequate experience.  This is unlike other professional regulators such as the Bar Council of India.

REQUIRING CENTRAL GOVERNMENT APPROVAL

• The Mediation Council requires prior approval from the central government before issuing regulations related to its essential functions which may not be appropriate.
• This may also be questioned since the central government may be a party to mediations.

THE WAY FORWARD

• Need to Raise Awareness: The Mediation has to be encouraged by making people aware of its need. More mediation institutions has to be promoted as well as there can be training programmes on such mechanisms. As mediation requires a change in mindset, a good experience of mediation is the best way to convince litigants to use mediation.
• Application of Mediation Provisions to Governments: As per former CJI N V Ramana, government forms the biggest litigant accounting for nearly 50%. Hence the exemptions given to the governments need  to be reduced to ensure the effectiveness of the mediation system.
• Ensuring Transparency: Any mediation process must be free of extraneous pressures, just like a law court, in order to be meaningful. The process must also earn the trust of the people. Mediation will help in the future if these conditions are fulfilled.
• Infrastructure: Enough of infrastructure should be set up at the earliest and it must be ensured that the mediation system is neutral and unbiased.
• Proper Representation: The Mediation and Conciliation Project Committee of the Supreme Court of India describes mediation as a tried and tested alternative for conflict resolution. As Mediation is a craft and skill-based and those who have training, experience, knowledge of mediation law and autonomy are required for leadership.
• International Scenario: The Bill needs to be in greater harmony with the Singapore Convention, which eases cross-border dispute settlement. It will benefit the country and the legal framework is necessary for ratification. Various countries including Australia, Singapore, and Italy have standalone laws on mediation where parties may withdraw from the mediation process after two sessions.

THE CONCLUSION: The statutory recognition to mediation for collaboration, dialogue, reconciliation and problem-solving is an achievement in order to enable a faster resolution of disputes. However, there are several issues and the Bill should be implemented after discussion with stakeholders.

MAINS QUESTIONS:

Q.1 What do you understand by Mediation? Do you think that the Mediation Bill 2021 can promote better access to justice and reduce pendency in judiciary? Argue.

Q.2 “The Mediation Bill 2021 aims at institutionalizing mediation in India but its implementation suffers from multiple challenges”.

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Mission Indradhanush 5.0 (IMI 5.0) campaign with special focus on improvement of Measles and Rubella vaccination coverage, will conclude all three rounds on 14 October 2023 READ MORE
2. INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION RISES TO 10.3% IN AUGUST 2023 READ MORE
3. India ranks 111 out of 125 countries in Global Hunger Index READ MORE  
4. What war crimes laws apply to the Israel-Palestinian conflict? READ MORE
5. Why Odisha govt’s new rural development scheme has triggered a controversy READ MORE
6. Dragonfly: The faces of wetlands in India READ MORE
7. IMI 5.0 reaches children up to five years for the first time READ MORE  
8. Biohydrogen’s role in India’s green hydrogen pathway READ MORE
9. Targeted methane mitigation can avoid 0.1°C warming in 2050, should be adopted with decarbonisation efforts: Report READ MORE
10. Joshimath sinking: Landslides in region not a new problem, says GSI report READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. The case for caste census in India | Explained READ MORE
2. Changed outlook READ MORE
3. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Should the 50 % legal ceiling on reservation be reconsidered? READ MORE
2. Administrators: All services need more officers, not just IFS. So do local govts. And recruit more specialists READ MORE
3. Pharma laxity: No tainted firm deserves leniency READ MORE
4. Make funding truly transparent and free of cash for fair polls READ MORE
5. ‘One Nation, One Election’ Will Further Weaken Indian Democracy READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Pro-choice, pro-women: A split SC verdict reflects a wider judicial-medical confusion about abortion rights. This must change READ MORE
2. India Ranks 111th Among 125 Countries in Global Hunger Index Report READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. Non-state actors are a threat to world peace READ MORE
2. ASEAN must reinvent itself to stay relevant in region READ MORE
3. India-Maldives Ties: A Walk on Eggshells As New Delhi Faces the China Question READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. Ways to make IBC more effective READ MORE   
2. Terms of Trade | Let’s discuss India’s growth forecast READ MORE
3. The right path: IMF raises India’s growth rate, validating that its economy is on a firm footing READ MORE
4. India’s farm machinery has global market READ MORE
5. By the farmers READ MORE
6. IMF and India READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Curbing air pollution: Centre, states need to work in close coordination READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI could redefine police techniques READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. Localise strategies to build climate resilience READ MORE
2.  India’s cyclone warning system is the model for disaster-proofing the country. Floods next READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Lies, levels, life: Cultivating your best being READ MORE
2. Misery is a choice READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Repeated elections have a cost, but the benefits of enhanced democracy that they trigger are far greater. Critically examine the statement in the light of recent debate about One Nation, One Election.
2. India is diverse, with different regions confronting diverse issues, and that impacts politics in the states. In light of statement, how far do you agree with this view that the concept of One Nation, One Election goes against the reality of India’s diversity?
3. Balancing growth and inflation is a complex endeavour, requiring a steady hand on the economic tiller. Discuss, how India can this balance in the ongoing uncertain global economic landscape?
4. Assessing vulnerabilities is the first step in reducing disaster risk. In light of recent disasters in the Himalayan region, discuss how the climate resilience approach in infrastructure development can minimize the disaster risk in that region.
5. The bureaucracy delivers on episodic events like conducting elections, which have a clear exit date but when it comes to daily events such as provision of civic amenities, the result is deeply unsatisfactory. Do you think that the division of bureaucracy between the three levels of government is a likely reason for such unamenities?
6. Modern states have evolved from directly running factories to regulating economic activity and for that Indian government needs to revisit the bureaucracy’s recruitment process and should focus on more domain expertise. Discuss.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable.
• Delhi’s history of intervening positively also led to the ironical consternation of the Maldivian opposition parties who started a disquiet campaign against the Maldivian Government’s traditional ‘India First’ policy to suggest a compromise to Maldivian sovereignty.
• Democracy weakens when the people’s choice is not based on who will represent their interests and fulfil their aspirations.
• Democracy is always in a state of flux and not in its ideal form.
• To strengthen democracy, politics needs to be more accountable.
• Having one election every five years will make political parties more unaccountable and free to fulfil the agenda of vested interests. That will weaken democracy and cost the nation far more than the direct and indirect costs of elections at present.
• Even if India had a perfect democracy, the ‘One Nation, One Election’ idea assumes homogeneity in the nation.
• A one-size-fits-all approach goes against the reality of the nation’s diversity and can lead to severe political backlash.
• The reality is that India has an imperfect democracy that needs to be strengthened.
• Elections are the times when the public can force political parties to become answerable.
• Repeated elections have a cost, but the benefits of enhanced democracy that they trigger are far greater.
• No farmers’ company can address climatic aberrations amidst a changing climate, broken landscapes, tattered ecologies and market volatilities unless supported by policies and incentives.
• Balancing growth and inflation is a complex endeavour, requiring a steady hand on the economic tiller.
• Ever since the artificial intelligence chatbot GPT technology burst on the global computer media scene suggesting its multifarious applications and uses in almost any area of human endeavour.
• If the ASEAN has to remain relevant, it needs to reinvent itself to suit the changing regional environment.
• Shortage of workers is pushing the demand for farm equipment. India can dominate the world market by leveraging its machine tools.
• The UN has the responsibility to resolve conflicts. But its failure should not be taken as an opportunity to abet terrorism in the name of freedom.
• It is crucial to re-evaluate building typologies and focus on developing climate-resilient designs.
• The bureaucracy delivers on episodic events like conducting elections, which have a clear exit date. But when it comes to daily events such as provision of civic amenities, the result is deeply unsatisfactory.

50-WORD TALK

• The external affairs ministry’s statement has rightly made it clear that India’s condemnation of the Hamas terror attack on Israel and New Delhi’s stated support to two-states solution on Palestine are not mutually exclusive. Unnecessarily obfuscating the two issues only sullies public debate. India’s position has been nuanced but consistent.
• Supreme Court listing electoral bonds case for final hearing after six years is welcome. Issues at stake are vital for democracy— need for transparency in political funding and undue advantage to ruling party. From passage as Money Bill to legalization of anonymity—this haze-shrouded scheme calls for thorough judicial scrutiny.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

1. Women’s quota — rhetoric and reality READ MORE
2. CrPC, IPC changes fall short of expectations READ MORE
3. RTI Act: Time to make it more effective READ MORE
4. Transparency Law | CIC’s evolution from defender to bystander READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Cabinet approves royalty rates for mining of three critical and strategic minerals- Lithium, Niobium and Rare Earth Elements (REEs) READ MORE
2. Cabinet approves establishment of an autonomous body Mera Yuva Bharat READ MORE
3. ‘Operation Ajay’ set to evacuate Indian nationals from Israel READ MORE  
4. Cauvery Committee retains water release recommendation of 3,000 cusecs to T.N. READ MORE
5. The cases before the new CJI-led nine-judge Constitution Bench | Explained READ MORE
6. Order on cleaning rivers not followed, NGT issues notice to Chief Secretaries of all States, Ministry of Jal Shakti READ MORE
7. India, China agree to maintain momentum of ‘dialogue and negotiations’ READ MORE  
8. How new royalty rates for strategic minerals lithium, REEs can help cut their imports READ MORE
9. What the GI tag can mean for the cashew industry in Goa READ MORE
10. India’s first bamboo-based biorefinery to start operations in March READ MORE
11. Chhattisgarh Baiga tribe gets habitat rights under FRA READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Globally, 9 million girls face extreme risks of climate disaster and child marriage every year: Report READ MORE
2. Changed outlook READ MORE
3. Even temporary global warming above 2°C will affect life in the oceans for centuries READ MORE
4. Is climate change the reason for Sikkim flash floods? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Women’s quota — rhetoric and reality READ MORE
2. CrPC, IPC changes fall short of expectations READ MORE
3. RTI Act: Time to make it more effective READ MORE
4. Transparency Law | CIC’s evolution from defender to bystander READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Learning for the future READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. UN Security Council reform is a song in a loop READ MORE
2. Are reunifications the key to world peace? READ MORE
3. Global Leadership Is Not Just About Drafting a Statement READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. India may face economic trouble as fertility levels drop READ MORE   
2. The labour market is tougher on women. This is what the Economics Nobel for 2023 acknowledges READ MORE
3. Good, do better: For India, to be the fastest growing major economy isn’t enough. Real change needs 8% growth READ MORE
4. Focus on economy’s basics for 8% growth READ MORE
5. India Needs Stronger Exports to Hold the Line READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Curbing air pollution: Centre, states need to work in close coordination READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Generic drugs are everywhere – and that’s a problem READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. How the government covered up the severity of Teesta floods by blaming them on a ‘cloudburst’ READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. The inescapable meaning of life READ MORE
2. Dealing with failure READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. India’s economy is navigating a labyrinth of interconnected challenges, and addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach encompassing domestic policy reforms. Comment on the statement in light of global economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions.
2. The challenges against world leadership cannot be addressed if the global institutions are not reformed with time. Analyse the statement in the light of recent global challenges.
3. If global institutions are not reformed as per occurring challenges, then instead of solving problems, they risk becoming part of the problem. In the light of statement, discuss the need for reforms in the United Nations.

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Unlike carbon-based fuels, the wind and the sun and the earth itself provide fuel that is free.
• China’s Tibet policy is primarily based on ruthless exploitation hidden under the façade of mega infrastructure projects which are showcased to the rest of the world as a sign of development in this region.
• Goldin’s Nobel and her own awarded work which took decades of research provides a tremendous intellectual platform for a wider level of global policy discussion and action on issues of gender wage gap, women and work, and more.
• Based on its achievements in key fields of technology, India is not in the global game. Yet, as a geopolitical pivot whose importance is derived not by its national power but its sensitive location, India is being courted by all three geostrategic players.
• The inclusion of the African Union as the new G-20 member was a pyrrhic victory compared with the six new members added to the BRICS (these include all global major energy exporters and importers) given that 50 of the 54 African nations attended the 2023 BRICS summit.
• India’s economy is navigating a labyrinth of interconnected challenges and addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach encompassing domestic policy reforms, diversification of export markets and enhancing economic resilience to global shocks.
• India’s ability to overcome global economic uncertainties and supply chain disruptions hurdles will be critical in ensuring continued economic growth and stability in an ever-evolving global landscape.
• Non-urban India has remained blindsided for decades in terms of superannuation, benefits, and social security. Rural India will now catch up with its urban counterpart at a quicker pace.
• The Central Information Commission’s job is to strike a balance between people’s right to know and the State’s legitimate need for limited secrecy.
• Right to Information (RTI) has brought transparency and systemic reforms but there is need to prevent its misuse and plug in loopholes.
• Climate change is exacerbating the risks. Because of global warming, more and more glaciers are melting.
• We must be careful in granting permission for the design of our mega hydro projects. We must do proper environment assessment of these projects and ensure that these withstand any water discharge that may happen in case of a glacier outburst.
• An increase in investment in traditional sectors such as mining and utilities because they trigger wider economic activities.
• Frequent tweaks of irritants aside, the GST regime needs a holistic reform plan, including a road map to bring in excluded items such as electricity, petroleum and alcohol.

50-WORD TALK

• A radical re-imagination of growth and developmental opportunities offering a wider platform for Indian (and other developing countries’) women (especially those at the margin in the employment landscape) through a greater, more assertive policy can be a starting point for subsequent transformations to happen across other nations too.
• The disaster in Sikkim is only the latest in a string of related incidents. But it must serve as an urgent reminder at all levels of the state and Central governments that the fragile condition of the Himalayas as the effects of climate change escalate will pose a continued and imminent danger to residents of India’s hill states.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT:  Generative AI has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to create novel content and assist in various creative and problem-solving tasks. However, it also raises ethical considerations, such as the potential for generating fake content or the need to ensure that generated content adheres to ethical guidelines.

WHAT IS GENERATIVE AI?

• Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to a subset of artificial intelligence that focuses on creating, generating, or producing new content, data, or information.
• It involves using algorithms and models to generate content that is not explicitly programmed or pre-defined by a human programmer.
• Instead, generative AI learns patterns and characteristics from existing data and then uses that knowledge to produce new, original content.
• One of the prominent techniques used in generative AI is the use of neural networks, particularly a class of models called Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Variational Autoencoders (VAEs).
• These models are trained on large datasets to capture the underlying patterns, structures, and features of the data. Once trained, they can generate new instances of data that resemble the patterns they’ve learned.

APPLICATION OF GENERATIVE AI 

CONTENT CREATION

• Generating human-like text for creative writing, chatbots, automated content creation, and even code generation.
• Generative AI can be used to compose new music or generate sounds. It can create music in various styles and even mimic the style of specific composers.

VIDEO GENERATION

• Similar to image generation, generative AI can be used to create video content, which has applications in video game development, animation, and special effects.
• Generative models can be used to transform the style of an existing piece of content, such as applying the artistic style of a famous painter to a photograph.

DATA AUGMENTATION

• In machine learning, generative models can be used to augment datasets by creating new examples that are similar to the existing ones. This can help improve the performance of machine learning algorithms.

HEALTHCARE AND DRUG DISCOVERY

• Designing new drug molecules with desired properties, aiding in drug discovery processes.
• Generating medical images for training medical imaging algorithms and simulations.
• Generating new clothing designs and fashion concepts and creating interior design concepts and room layouts.

GAMING AND VIRTUAL REALITY

• Generating virtual landscapes, terrains, and game levels.
• Creating virtual characters with unique attributes, appearances, and behaviours.

ANOMALY DETECTION

• Creating synthetic anomalies or outliers to train anomaly detection systems and generating ad copy, slogans, and marketing content.
• Creating new product designs and prototypes and generating synthetic data for simulations in scientific research and experimentation.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GENERATIVE AI?

Generative AI, a subset of artificial intelligence, involves the creation of new content, data, or outputs that mimic human creativity and ingenuity. There are several benefits to using Generative AI:

PERSONALISATION

• Generative AI can be used to personalize content for individual users. For instance, it can generate personalized product recommendations, news articles, or marketing messages based on user preferences and behaviour.

DRUG DISCOVERY AND MOLECULAR DESIGN

• In the field of chemistry, generative models can assist in discovering new drugs or designing molecules with desired properties. This can significantly speed up the drug development process.

SIMULATION AND TRAINING

• Generative models can generate synthetic data for simulations and training purposes. For instance, they can be used to simulate realistic environments for training autonomous vehicles or robots.

ENTERTAINMENT AND STORYTELLING

• Generative AI can be employed to generate interactive narratives, video scripts, and other forms of entertainment, enhancing user engagement and immersion.

NATURAL LANGUAGE PROCESSING

• Generative models in natural language processing can be used for text generation, dialogue systems, summarization, and paraphrasing.

CREATIVE ASSISTANCE

• Generative AI tools can assist creative professionals by generating ideas, suggesting designs, or helping brainstorm new concepts. This can speed up the creative process and provide fresh perspectives.

THE IMPLICATION OF GENERATIVE AI

Generative AI has the potential to have a profound impact on society, both positive and negative.

POSITIVE IMPLICATIONS

• Generative AI can be used to automate tasks, generate new ideas, and create personalized experiences. This can lead to increased productivity and efficiency in many industries.
• Generative AI can be used to develop new medical treatments, create personalized learning experiences, and improve the efficiency of healthcare delivery.
• Generative AI can be used to create new forms of art, music, and literature. This can lead to new ways of expressing ourselves and experiencing the world.
• Generative AI can be used to solve complex problems, such as those involving climate change or poverty. This can have a positive impact on the world.

NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS

• Generative AI models can be biased, which can lead to the creation of discriminatory content. This is a particular concern in areas such as healthcare and education, where decisions can have a significant impact on people’s lives.
• Generative AI can be used to create fake news and other forms of misinformation. This can have a negative impact on democracy and society.
• Generative AI has the potential to displace some human jobs. This is a particular concern in areas such as manufacturing and customer service.
• Generative AI models can be hacked or used to create malicious content. This could pose a security risk to individuals and organizations.

GENERATIVE AI IS A CAUSE FOR WORRY OR OPPORTUNITIES?

CAUSES FOR WORRY

Ethical Concerns: Generative AI can produce content that is biased, offensive, or harmful. If not properly controlled, it might inadvertently generate inappropriate or misleading information.

Displacement of Jobs: There is a concern that certain creative professions, like content creation, design, and even some aspects of software development, might be affected as AI becomes capable of generating similar outputs.

Intellectual Property: The ownership and copyright of content generated by AI can be complex and challenging to address. It’s not always clear who owns the rights to content created by AI systems.

Misinformation: Generative AI can potentially be used to create convincing fake content, such as deepfake videos or realistic fake news articles, which could have negative impacts on public discourse and trust.

Privacy Implications: AI systems that generate content based on user data raise privacy concerns, as they might inadvertently reveal personal information or preferences.

Dependency: Overreliance on generative AI systems might lead to a decline in human creativity and critical thinking, as well as a decreased ability to generate original content.

OPPORTUNITIES

Enhanced Creativity: Generative AI can assist human creativity by providing inspiration, generating novel ideas, and speeding up the creative process. This could lead to new forms of artistic expression and innovation.

Efficiency and Productivity: Businesses and industries can benefit from automated content creation, data augmentation, and simulation, leading to improved efficiency and reduced costs.

Scientific Advancements: In fields like drug discovery, molecular design, and simulations, generative AI can accelerate research and innovation by generating vast amounts of data and hypotheses.

Problem-Solving: Generative AI can assist in finding solutions to complex problems by generating new perspectives, alternative designs, and innovative approaches.

Accessible Creativity: Generative AI can make creative tools more accessible to individuals with limited artistic skills, democratizing the creation of art and design.

Language Translation: Generative AI has the potential to break down language barriers, enabling more effective communication and collaboration across different languages and cultures.

THE CHALLENGES OF GENERATIVE AI

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) is a type of AI that can create new content, such as images, text, and music. It is still a relatively new field of research, and there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed before it can be widely used.

DATA QUALITY AND QUANTITY

• Generative AI models require large amounts of high-quality data to learn from. This data can be difficult and expensive to collect, and it can also be biased, which can lead to the generative AI model producing biased outputs.

MODEL PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION

• Generative AI models are often complex and computationally expensive to train and serve. It can be difficult to evaluate the performance of these models, and there is no single metric that can be used to measure their success.

MODEL EXPLAINABILITY AND TRUSTWORTHINESS

• Generative AI models are often opaque and unpredictable in their behaviour and outputs. This can make it difficult to trust them and to ensure that they are not being used to generate harmful content.

BIAS

• Generative AI models can be biased if they are trained on data that is biased. This can lead to the models generating outputs that are also biased.

SECURITY AND PRIVACY

• Generative AI models can be used to generate sensitive content, such as images of people or text that contains personal information. This raises concerns about security and privacy.
• Despite these challenges, generative AI is a promising field with the potential to revolutionize many industries. As the technology continues to develop, these challenges will need to be addressed in order to make generative AI more widely used and beneficial.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE GOING AHEAD?

• Invest in research and development: Generative AI is a rapidly evolving field, and there is still much to learn about how to develop and use it safely and effectively. More research and development is needed to improve the capabilities of generative AI and to mitigate its potential risks.
• Develop ethical guidelines: As generative AI becomes more powerful, it is important to develop ethical guidelines for its use. These guidelines should address issues such as the use of generative AI for creating fake content, the potential for bias in generative AI models, and the impact of generative AI on human jobs.
• Educate the public about generative AI: As generative AI becomes more widely used, it is important to educate the public about how it works and its potential benefits and risks. This education should help people to understand how to use generative AI responsibly and to be aware of its potential for harm.
• Monitor the development and use of generative AI: As generative AI becomes more widespread, it is important to monitor its development and use. This monitoring should help to identify and address any potential risks associated with generative AI.
• Create personalized experiences for customers: Generative AI could be used to create personalized experiences for customers, such as by generating recommendations for products or services or by creating customized content.
• Automate complex processes: Generative AI could be used to automate complex processes, such as those involved in manufacturing, healthcare, or finance. This could free up human workers to focus on more creative and strategic tasks.
• Generate new ideas and designs: Generative AI could be used to generate new ideas and designs, such as for products, services, or creative works. This could help businesses to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.
• Solve complex problems: Generative AI could be used to solve complex problems, such as those involving climate change or healthcare.

THE CONCLUSION: The capabilities of AI are immense, and these capabilities also crossways with humans in numerous ways. Presently where AI is making several things for humans easier, at the same time, it is also giving tough competition to humans in other arenas. With the launch of Chat GPT and Bard IO, jobs like content writers and developers are on the verge, as AI is quicker, more accurate and cost-effective. As AI rises further, the same situation can be imagined for other sectors as well in the near future. The bane and the boon of AI depend upon the way humans take it; where the disadvantages are substantial, the advantages are also credible enough.

Mains Question

Q.1. The rise of Generative AI has made several things easier but has compromised on numerous aspects like academic integrity, and work ethics. Is the compromise justified in comparison to the benefits of Generative AI? Argue.

Q.2. Despite the revolutionary potential of Generative AI, it has raised several concerns. Examine.

1. Gita unfolds the true essence of sanatan dharma READ MORE
2. Dealing with failure READ MORE

1. Something changed about cyclone formation in the 1990s | Explained READ MORE  
2. What the hottest September ever reveals about climate change READ MORE
3. India can reap the demographic dividend – but there’s a deadline READ MORE
4. Why does Delhi NCR frequently experience earthquakes, what causes seismic activity in region? READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Competition Commission of India to host 8th BRICS International Competition Conference during October 11-13, 2023 in New Delhi READ MORE
2. SC to hear pleas challenging electoral bond scheme on October 31 READ MORE
3. Net direct tax collections up 21.8% to ₹9.57 lakh crore READ MORE  
4. PCA regime to cover PSU NBFCs from October 2024 READ MORE
5. IMF raises India growth forecast to 6.3% for FY24 READ MORE
6. India, Italy sign defence cooperation agreement READ MORE
7. SC to hear petition challenging electoral bonds: What is the scheme and its criticisms? READ MORE  
8. Dancing frogs of Western Ghats among most threatened amphibians globally READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Mental disorders 10 times more likely following detention among asylum-seeking children: Report READ MORE
2. Women want change, society needs change READ MORE
3. DC Edit | Caste census to address inequity READ MORE
4. Something changed about cyclone formation in the 1990s | Explained READ MORE  
5. What the hottest September ever reveals about climate change READ MORE
6. India can reap the demographic dividend – but there’s a deadline READ MORE
7. Why does Delhi NCR frequently experience earthquakes, what causes seismic activity in region? READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Caste census: Why the liberal intelligentsia’s opposition is misplaced READ MORE
2. Stop being vindictive’: SC directive to ED welcome READ MORE
3. DC Edit | SC’s relook at PMLA provisions welcome READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. Learning for the future READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. BRICS: The mortar of competition in a globalised world READ MORE
2. ‘West is hypocritical’ is now India’s go-to foreign policy response. Delhi not exempt either READ MORE
3. India and the Israel-Palestine War: Choices, challenges and trade-offs READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. The impact of Claudia Goldin’s work READ MORE  
2. Achieving the green energy goal READ MRE
3. Centre’s push on infra is transforming India READ MORE
4. West Asia crisis can hit global economy READ MORE
5. Claudia Goldin’s Nobel is a Wake-up Call for India’s Disjointed Labour Markets READ MORE
6. DC Edit | RBI keeps its focus on inflation READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Deregulation of biodiversity regime to impact environment READ MORE

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. We need evidence-based traditional medicine READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. More people moved into high flood zones, exposing larger populations to water disasters: World Bank READ MORE
2. Sikkim’s Chungthang dam collapse signals the need for dam safety & emissions reduction READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. How the Khalistan movement is interlinked with Punjab’s growing drug problem, gun culture READ MORE
2. Beyond ‘Black Mirror’s’ fiction – Impact of Generative AI on policing, security READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. Gita unfolds the true essence of sanatan dharma READ MORE
2. Dealing with failure READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Why does Delhi NCR frequently experience earthquakes? What causes seismic activity in this region?
2. There is a need to redefine the relationship between the State and universities for a truly autonomous and thriving academic environment. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
3. While constitutional safeguards and legal protection for Dalits exist, caste-based discrimination has taken on new forms in the modern era. Discuss why the safeguards and legal protection failed to address the issue of discrimination in higher educational institutions?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• A leader who doesn’t hesitate before he sends his nation into battle is not fit to be a leader.
• India must carefully weigh the situation, its long-term trajectory, and fall outs and find sensible geopolitical choices and security measures to deal with future challenges.
• The growing perception of Canada being a sanctuary for global offenders not only tarnishes its international reputation but also poses a threat to its societal fabric.
• It is difficult to fathom how a pause in policy rates or controlling liquidity could bring down food inflation, which was caused mainly because of supply shortages.
• Inclusion does not happen on its own in a society beset with inequalities which have a history of thousands of years; it takes deliberate and forceful attempts.
• While the apex court puts its imprimatur on the law finding it an effective tool to take on international terror rackets, its use on the ground does not share that confidence.
• It may be a paradox that a country which runs per a democratic Constitution and vouches by the rule of law has for all these years let an investigating agency infringe on the fundamental right to liberty of citizens without offering them a reason.
• Future-ready education is one that will help students adapt to ever-changing circumstances, prepare them for the drastic fallouts of climate change, teach them the importance of maintaining a balanced ecology and help them to be genuine global citizens.
• Generative AI’s impact on military warfare can be both revolutionary and riddled with ethical and legal considerations. It has significant implications for defence strategies, intelligence gathering, and training simulations.
• The fall in prices and the strengthening of international financial linkages will allow India to attain a current account surplus.
• The United Nations’ report on ageing in India serves as a reminder that the country’s opportunity to reap the demographic dividend is not perpetual.
• Russia’s increasing involvement in Africa is about its geopolitics, economics, and intricate security concerns.
• Reservation is the most effective form of affirmative action and equity is the first step to equality.

50-WORD TALK

• Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is complaining about India to a growing list of global leaders from the UK, the UAE, and now Jordan. If Trudeau has concrete evidence of Indian wrong-doing, he should present it. Else, he’ll have to get used to the eye-rolling all whiny children eventually get.
• Awarding the Economics Nobel to economic historian Claudia Goldin is entirely appropriate. She’s greatly enhanced our understanding of women’s pay and labour participation, and historical issues therein. That she’s only the third woman to win this Nobel, and the first to do it solo, highlights how vital her research is.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: Recently NITI Aayog released the second edition of the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), ‘National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A Progress of Review 2023’. India has registered a significant decline of 9.89% in a number of India’s multidimensionally poor from 24.85% in 2015-16 to 14.96% in 2019-21, as per the report.

BACKGROUND OF POVERTY ESTIMATION

• The estimation of poverty or prosperity has received considerable institutional and academic attention over the years.
• In India, the pioneering work was perhaps Dadabhai Naoroji’s Poverty and unBritish Rule in India. Subsequently, several experts Dandekar & Rath (1971); Alagh (1979); Lakdawala (1993); Tendulkar (2009) have all attempted to answer the question of the numbers in poverty.
• Historically, poverty has traditionally been measured against a defined standard/level. However, the intensity of poverty can vary even within that standard, which itself is a subject of much debate.

THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY INDEX (MPI)

• The National Multidimensional Poverty Index is modelled on the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, which is jointly published by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
• The NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI).
• It ranks States and Union Territories based on their performance and has also constituted an inter-ministerial MPI Coordination Committee (MPICC) to consult twelve Line Ministries mapped to each National MPI indicator.
• The National MPI Project is aimed at deconstructing the Global MPI and creating a globally aligned and yet customised India MPI for drawing up comprehensive Reform Action Plans with the larger goal of improving India’s position in the Global MPI rankings.
• It captures overlapping deprivations in health, education and living standards and other broader qualitative aspects of life, like child mortality, housing conditions, and other basic services such as water and sanitation to ascertain multidimensional poverty.

THE METHODOLOGY

• The index is calculated using 12 indicators gathered from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) reports from 2015-16 and 2019-21 (one-year gap due to Covid). NFHS is conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
• The Baseline Report of MPI is based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 4 taken up during 2015-16 and National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) during 2019-21.
• The National MPI measures simultaneous deprivations across three equally weighted dimensions of health, education, and standard of living that are represented by 12 sustainable development goal (SDG) aligned indicators.
• Each of these specific parameters is assigned a value to calculate what is called a ‘deprivation score. The deprivation score is the sum of the weighted status of all the indicators for an individual if it is more than 0.33, only then an individual is considered multidimensionally poor.
• Change in multidimensional poverty is then obtained by comparing the data from the fifth National Family Health Survey (NHFS5) (2019–21) with data from NHFS4 (2015–16).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NATIONAL MPI REPORT 2023

DECLINE IN POVERTY

• India has registered a decline in the number of “multidimensionally poor” individuals, from 24.85 per cent in 2015-16 to 14.96 per cent in 2019-2021.
• India witnessed 13.5 crore people moving out of multidimensional poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21 due to improvements in indicators like access to cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, and bank accounts, among others.

SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT IN INDICATORS

• In the five years, the MPI value halved from 0.117 to 0.066 and intensity of poverty reduced from 47% to 44%, thereby setting India on the path of achieving the SDG target 1.2 (of reducing multidimensional poverty by at least half) much ahead of the stipulated timeline of 2030.
• All 12 parameters of the MPI have shown marked improvements in the report.
• Niti Aayog said the government’s dedicated focus on improving access to sanitation, nutrition, cooking fuel, financial inclusion, drinking water, and electricity has led to significant advancements in these areas.

MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY IN STATES

• Providing multidimensional poverty estimates for the 36 States and Union Territories, and 707 administrative districts, the report said the fastest reduction in the proportion of multidimensional poor was observed in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Rajasthan.
• Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Meghalaya made headlines for having the highest proportion of multidimensionally poor people among their respective total populations. However, these states had also shown the maximum decline in poverty.
• On the other hand, Kerala, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, and Punjab are the states with the lowest proportion of multidimensionally poor people as compared to their total populations.

LESS THAN 10% MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY IN INDIAN STATES

• Indian states with less than 10% multidimensional poverty doubled in 5 yrs. According to the report, in 2015-16 (NFHS-4), only seven states had less than 10 per cent of their population living in multidimensional poverty  Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Kerala.
• However, in 2019-21 (NFHS-5), the list had doubled to include 14 states, with the seven new additions being Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Uttarakhand.
• All of these states saw a significant reduction in poverty headcount ratio, except for Bihar; no other state in India has more than one-third of its population living in multidimensional poverty.

IMPROVEMENT IN RURAL POPULATION STANDARD OF LIVING

• The report released has clearly indicated that the rural populace has outclassed their urban counterparts in the improvement of living standards.
• The multidimensional poverty in the rural areas has come down to 7.51% in 2019-21 from 19.51%, a decline of 12% against just about 2.2% in urban areas. Urban poverty, which was 4.92% in 2015-16, receded to 2.73% in 2019-21.
• The report said rural areas witnessed the fastest decline in poverty from 32.59% to 19.28%, while the urban areas saw a reduction in poverty from 8.65% to 5.27%.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MPI OF NITI AAYOG WITH MPI OF UNDP

• Most of the indicators used for computing global MPI by the UN and national MPI by Niti Aayog are the same. Except for the fact that Niti Aayog takes into account two more factors, e. maternal mortality and opening of the bank accounts.
• MPI index of NITI Aayog takes into account health, education and standard of living but not income in any direct sense. Income could figure in the standard of living parameters, such as cooking fuel, sanitation, drinking water, housing, electricity and assets.
• In this respect, Unlike the MPI of NITI Aayog, which delves more into non-income factors in poverty, the UNDP’s HDI is modelled around per capita income, life expectancy at birth and mean years of schooling with equal emphasis on each.
• Both MPI of NITI Aayog and MPI of UNDP used NFHS-5 data. Still, there appears to be a data discrepancy between the MPI and India’s score in the UNDP’s human development index.
• On the one hand, MPI (Multi-dimensional poverty index) poor has fallen from 24.85 per cent in 2015-16 to 14.96 per cent in 2019-21, which translates into 135 million exiting poverty so defined over this period.
• On the other hand, the UNDP report says that although 415 million people moved out of MPI poverty between 2005-06 and 2019-21, 230 million or about 16.4 per cent of the population is still poor, an estimate slightly higher than the NITI Aayog’.

ISSUES IN THE INDEX

Even as there has been a significant reduction in the number of multidimensionally poor individuals, the index is embedded with several issues that need to be addressed.

POVERTY NOT EQUALLY REPRESENTED IN INDICATOR

• It is worth noting that one in seven Indians continue to fall under the category of multidimensional poor primarily because poverty reduction is not equally represented in the three main indicators of standard of living, health, and education.

LACK OF IMPROVEMENT IN INDICATORS

• Within the health category, three sub-indicators, nutrition, child and adolescent mortality, and maternal health, showed only moderate improvement.
• Similarly, while sanitation numbers have improved, more than 30 per cent of the population is deprived when it comes to sanitation services.
• Access to housing also remained to be an indicator where the improvement was only marginal.

ISSUE REGARDING CREDIBILITY OF DATA

• Even members of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister have raised doubts regarding the credibility of the data.
• According to them, the sample used in most of the surveys is incorrect since it is drawn from the dated 2011 census.
• The members argued that recent big changes are not being captured by the samples drawn from the 2011 census.

ISSUE IN MACRO DATA

• Macro data is already under suspicion as the largely unorganised non-agriculture sector (30 per cent of GDP and employing 48 per cent of the workforce) is not independently measured.

LEARNING GAP NOT CAPTURED

• The Annual Status of Education Report points to a huge learning gap, but this also goes uncaptured in the report.
• As a child may formally attend school but not effectively if the teacher is missing or hardly teaches.

RURAL-URBAN DIVIDE

• The Niti Aayog report says that though there has been a decline in the incidence of poverty, the urban-rural divide still remains a matter of concern.
• As the proportion of multidimensional poor was 19.28% of the Indian population, while in urban areas, it stood at 5.27% in 2019-21.

DIFFERING DATA

• Recently, the UNDP released the global multidimensional poverty index. It also used NFHS-5 data like the NITI Aayog report.
• However, according to the global MPI, the percentage of people living in multidimensional poverty in India is 16.4 as compared to 14.96% of the Niti Aayog.
• A difference of 1.44% points is significant in absolute numbers considering India’s high population.

NOT USING CORRECT STANDARDS

• Due to the absence of a consumption survey after 2012, the government is not measuring poverty properly.
• The government of India has not been able to tell citizens the number and share of the population below the consumption poverty line, which has been the traditional method of estimating poverty globally for decades.
• India has used consumption poverty as the measure for over four decades.

 THE WAY FORWARD

• Conducting a timely Census: Census is a crucial exercise for better policy making, which provides correct data if a timely conducted. The government is unduly delaying the census, and there is a need to fasten the process.
• Using Standard method: There is a need to upgrade the methodology and start using the standard method. For example, for the poor, only PPP are not relevant; they mask their true poverty. For them, the metric of the ‘nominal dollar’ is more appropriate. Thus, most of the unorganised sector is way below the poverty line. Nominal dollars (also referred to as actual dollars) represent the actual amount of money spent or earned in a given year.   Rather than employing a standard income-based approach, it uses statistics from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) to capture the various dimensions of poverty in India.
• Contribution towards Instituting Public Policy tool: The use of an index in establishing a public policy tool to monitor multidimensional poverty and informed, evidence-based, and targeted interventions will ensure that no one is left behind.
• To provide an Overview of Poverty: This year’s Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) reminds us of the need for a complete picture of how people are being affected by poverty. There is a need to design effective responses while also allowing for more detailed and in-depth analyses of areas of interest, such as regions states, or districts, and specific sectors, to supplement existing monetary poverty statistics.
• Contribute to the achievement of the SDGs: Properly measuring and working on the issues of poverty will help achieve the measuring progress toward Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 1.2, which aims to reduce “at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions.”

THE CONCLUSION: Though the recently released 2^nd edition of the MPI report has shown significant improvement in its indicators which contributed to the decline in poverty. However, the conclusions of the report have several lacunae which need reinterpretation to achieve long-term SDG goals with proper policy interventions.

MAINS QUESTIONS

Q.1 Define Multidimensional Poverty. Explain the policies and initiatives taken by the government to tackle this with relevant examples.

Q.2 Despite the measures by the government, one in seven Indians are bracketed as multidimensional poor. Highlight the reasons behind this situation in India and suggest measures.

1. The state of India’s Scheduled Areas READ MORE
2. Uncertain timing, Census and delimitation hurdles cast shadow over women’s reservation READ MORE
3. Law Commission age of consent recommendations threaten to criminalise the young READ MORE

(Newspapers, PIB and other important sources)

Prelim and Main

1. Harvard professor Claudia Goldin wins Nobel Economics Prize for gender gap research READ MORE
2. Scientists untangle mystery about the universe’s earliest galaxies READ MORE
3. Sri Lanka to take over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association READ MORE  
4. Ahead of Bima Vistaar rollout, IRDAI issues guidelines on Bima Vahaks READ MORE
5. ICMR to set up study to develop solutions to remedy childhood undernutrition READ MORE
6. What is multimodal artificial intelligence and why is it important? READ MORE
7. Joint Statement during the State Visit of the President of Tanzania to India and launch of Strategic Partnership between India and Tanzania (8-10 October 2023) READ MORE  
8. Appointment of Manipur HC CJ to be notified soon, Centre tells apex court READ MORE
9. Unemployment rate drops to 6.6% in urban areas in Q1 READ MORE

Main

GS Paper- 1

1. Mental health and the floundering informal worker READ MORE
2. Socio-economic takeaways from Bihar caste survey READ MORE
3. Does India need a caste census? READ MORE
4. Extreme weather impact: 20,000 children displaced every day in last 6 years READ MORE  
5. How climate crisis will trigger more water wars in India READ MORE

GS Paper- 2

POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. The state of India’s Scheduled Areas READ MORE
2. Uncertain timing, Census and delimitation hurdles cast shadow over women’s reservation READ MORE
3. Law Commission age of consent recommendations threaten to criminalise the young READ MORE

SOCIAL ISSUES

1. The ‘invisible’ disability of mental illness: Challenges of social security access READ MORE
2. Fundamental health services for women: Analysing gender disparities READ MORE

INTERNATIONAL ISSUES

1. The end of the two-state solution: Hamas’s spectacular terrorism will push back Palestinian statehood by a generation READ MORE

GS Paper- 3

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

1. With food inflation limited to dal roti, why govt policy may need changes READ MORE  
2. Economics Nobel 2023: How Claudia Goldin shed light on the status of women in the workforce READ MORE
3. Is RBI heading in the right direction? READ MORE

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY

1. Why India is launching a national framework for climate services Extreme weather impact: 20,000 children displaced every day in last 6 years READ MORE
2. Natural disasters occur due to our apathy towards environment READ MORE

DISASTER MANAGEMENT

1. More people moved into high flood zones, exposing larger populations to water disasters: World Bank READ MORE
2. Sikkim’s Chungthang dam collapse signals the need for dam safety & emissions reduction READ MORE

INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Back to square one on theatre commands READ MORE

GS Paper- 4

ETHICS EXAMPLES AND CASE STUDY

1. It’s okay to be not okay READ MORE
2. Only we can reform our society READ MORE

Questions for the MAIN exam

1. Empowering women with the right to a safe and inclusive online environment is a crucial step toward a more equitable and just society in the digital age. Comment.
2. There is a need to redefine the relationship between the State and universities for a truly autonomous and thriving academic environment. Comment on the statement in light of recent developments.
3. While constitutional safeguards and legal protection for Dalits exist, caste-based discrimination has taken on new forms in the modern era. Discuss why the safeguards and legal protection are failed to address the issue of discrimination in higher educational institutions?

QUOTATIONS AND CAPTIONS

• Palestine is the cement that holds the Arab world together, or it is the explosive that blows it apart.
• The disturbing trends seen in women’s mental health call for immediate gender mainstreaming action in mental health policies.
• Policy neglect, uncertain job market, and increased contractualisation are making labourers’ economic condition worse. Inflation is negating purchasing power too.
• Wages of informal labourers neither become an election issue nor do they count as a measure of poverty.
• ]The only way to protect the Indian rupee is through price stability. Assured stability through firmer anti-inflationary measures sends an effective message to overseas investors.
• We need to enhance our responsibility and responsiveness towards climate cure and healing; we must investment in climate-pro solutions.
• Enhance cooperation for mitigation efforts, and develop sustainable and viable ecosystems for a crisis-free society.
• A caste census is deemed discriminatory and opposed by those who seek equal rights for all. Besides, opinions are sharply divided on its impact.
• The release of the socio-economic profile of various SRCs can bring back the lost focus on the ‘economic’ aspect of social justice.
• The promise of a caste census could influence outcomes in the upcoming assembly elections but not do much for the cause of universal welfarism.
• India and South Korea, guided by universal values, should build beyond bilateralism as they refuse to be bystanders amid global disorder.
• Law Commission recommendations on age of consent sidestep key question of how to protect the young from sexual abuse, while ensuring they are not punished for consensual sexual activity with peers.
• Informal workers, despite their significant contribution to national income, are perennially exposed to economic, physical, and, in turn, mental vulnerabilities.
• The only way forward is for a Palestinian leadership that can credibly signal to the Israeli people that it will not use the freedoms it gains from any peace deal to hurt Israel. The prospects for that seem dim.

50-WORD TALK

• The shocking failure of Israel’s security services to preempt Hamas’ brutal strikes illustrates the damage caused when elected dictators operate without scrutiny and the perils of emulating Erdogan-style rule. PM Netanyahu’s politics undermined Jerusalem’s military and intelligence leadership. Israel will prevail—but at a price that need not have been paid.
• Army signing contracts worth Rs 18,000 crore under emergency procurement and asking it be institutionalised shows how convoluted military procurement has become. It is a shame that Services have to use EP to fill up critical gaps. This piecemeal approach should be stopped and procurement systems decluttered for faster procurement.

Things to Remember:

• For prelims-related news try to understand the context of the news and relate with its concepts so that it will be easier for you to answer (or eliminate) from given options.
• Whenever any international place will be in news, you should do map work (marking those areas in maps and exploring other geographical locations nearby including mountains, rivers, etc. same applies to the national places.)
• For economy-related news (banking, agriculture, etc.) you should focus on terms and how these are related to various economic aspects, for example, if inflation has been mentioned, try to relate with prevailing price rises, shortage of essential supplies, banking rates, etc.
• For main exam-related topics, you should focus on the various dimensions of the given topic, the most important topics which occur frequently and are important from the mains point of view will be covered in ED. Try to use the given content in your answer. Regular use of this content will bring more enrichment to your writing.

THE CONTEXT: Recently, the Bombay High Court said that it is high time India considered reducing the age of consent for sex. The court pointed out that after the enactment of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012; many adolescents are being prosecuted for consensual relationships with minor girls. While the Supreme Court and several High Courts have underlined concerns over the criminalization of adolescent sex, the issue of the age of consent remains much debated.  This article discusses these issues in a comprehensive manner to enable the students to develop the right perspective.

THE MEANING OF CONSENT

•  ‘Age of consent’ refers to the legally defined age at which an individual is considered capable of granting consent for sexual activities. The age of consent was 16 prior to the enactment of the POCSO Act.

        The POCSO Act categorizes any sexual acts involving individuals under 18 as criminal offences, irrespective of whether actual consent exists between minors.

        This is based on the legal presumption that individuals below 18 are incapable of providing consent in the legal context.

• Section 375 of the IPC defines Consent as “unequivocal,” “voluntary,” and “willing,” according to the definition, and the will must be “communicated.” It still contains the age bar of 18 years below which any act of consensual act of sexual intimacy will be treated as rape.

DEMAND FOR REDUCING THE AGE OF CONSENT

• Does not reflect societal realities: The law is criminalising adolescent sexuality rather than focusing only on child sexual abuse. For instance:
  • The study by Enfold Proactive Health Trust, Bengaluru, found that 93.8% of “romantic cases” tried under POCSO ended in acquittals. The findings were based on an analysis of 1,715 “romantic cases” registered and decided by special courts in Assam, Maharashtra and West Bengal between 2016 and 2020.
  • The Hindu in its study based in Delhi (2013) and Mumbai (2015) found that in approximately 33 per cent and 23 per cent of the sexual assault cases involving adolescent girls respectively, the girl stated that the sexual intercourse was consensual.
  • A similar study by the National Law School of India University, Bengaluru shows that a considerable proportion of adolescent girls between 16-18 years of age refuse to testify against the accused under the POCSO Act.
• Observations by various High Courts: Courts have underlined concerns over the criminalization of adolescent sex. For Instance:
  • In Vijayalakshmi vs State (2021) the Madras High Court stated that punishing an adolescent boy, who enters into a relationship with a minor girl by treating him as an offender, was never the objective of the POCSO Act.
  • In 2021, the Delhi High Court in AK v. State Govt of NCT of Delhi stated that the intention of POCSO was to protect children under the age of 18 years from sexual exploitation and not to criminalize romantic relationships between consenting young adults.
  • More recently in June 2023 at least three different High Courts have either quashed First Information Reports (FIRs) and pending criminal proceedings or acquitted accused persons under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. One High Court released the accused on bail on the grounds that the accused and victim had consensual sex.
• The abuse of the judicial process on teenagers is also evident from the fact that between 2010 and 2013, a total of 1,728 cases were registered in Tamil Nadu, of which 1,274 cases remain pending after a decade. The Madras High Court decided to identify such cases of consensual relationships and cancel them if they impacted the future of the children involved.
• Many societies and cultures link age for sexual consent to puberty. Traditionally, in India, sex and marriage have been considered synonymous. However, given that the age for puberty has dropped in the recent past and society has changed, there are concerns about the age for sexual consent and its implications on the health and psyche of young people. It is high time the legislature look into the grey area resulting in criminalising consensual teenage relationships.
• Reducing the age of consent will also ensure much-needed reforms and access to sexual and reproductive health services to adolescents, along with comprehensive sex education to help them make informed decisions.
• Several countries have taken cognisance of the peculiar reality between ‘sexual autonomy’ and ‘sexual aggression’. Germany, Italy and Hungary, for example, consider children 14 years and above to be old enough to give consent.

CASE AGAINST REDUCING THE AGE OF CONSENT

• Around 12 lakh minor girls in India are involved in commercial sex, according to data from the Ministry of Women and Child Development. These girls know what they are doing and they depend on the sex trade for their livelihood. But doing something in a vulnerable situation due to a lack of choices is not consent. If we lower the age of consent, we cannot try the cases in which money has been exchanged for “consent”.
• Consent is a nuanced theme. Courts ought to consider various factors, for instance, the age gap between the accused and the victim, power dynamics, caste equations etc on a case-by-case basis to assess/establish consent.
• In December 2021, the Union Cabinet cleared a proposal to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years to bring it on par with men. The government cited gender neutrality, risks of early pregnancies and overall empowerment of women as reasons to increase the age of marriage. While this proposal is pending, it is believed that lowering the age of consent may be counterproductive for women, especially for teen adults when it comes to their bio-social aspects (education, health and bodily autonomy).
• The average conviction rate in POCSO cases across the country (between 2017 and 2019) was around 30 per cent, as per NCRB data. It would be unwise to amend the age of consent under the POCSO Act on the assumption that out of every 100 cases, only 30 were pronounced guilty.
• As part of revamping its laws relating to sex crimes, Japan in June 2023 has raised the age of sexual consent from 13 to 16 years. This is the first time Japan has changed its age of consent since 1907 when the law was first enacted. Meanwhile, the highest age of consent is reportedly in Bahrain at 21. The protection of consenting adolescents against criminal proceedings does not necessarily mean reducing the age of consent. Necessary provisions can be included in the POCSO Act itself to protect consensual relationships.

WHETHER THE AGE SHOULD BE REVISED?

The debate on the issue of the age of consent shall not be based only on terms like law, changing society, age of maturity etc instead there is a need to take an integrated and holistic approach including autonomy. The cognitive capacity of the individual, psycho-social maturity, emotional development and economic factors shall also be considered.  Courts in India are flooded with cases on the rampant misuse of the POCSO Act in which consenting teenagers are prosecuted for romantic acts.  The rigor of POCSO has also become a tool in the hands of conservative elements including family members in order to punish the relationship outside the traditional identity norms.

However, it is also a fact that the mental and moral development of children may not be sufficient to make informed choices and consent based on free will. There is a high possibility of their decisions being based on some extraneous considerations. Also, their naivety may be taken advantage by a perpetrator. It is the responsibility of the State to safeguard the ability of persons  to take decisions and their autonomy while at the same time, it has the duty to protect them from harm. Thus a  broader debate involving the large cross-section of society is needed before deciding on the issue of the age of consent by keeping the interests of children at the centre.

THE WAY FORWARD:

• Legal Reforms: The most common way in which legal systems around the world have sought to resolve the inconsistency in the age of consent laws is by moving from a ‘hard’ to a ‘soft’ approach, whereby a single age of consent is replaced by different ages of consent for different age groups. Such provisions are known as ‘close-in-age’ exemptions to the age of consent law.

For instance, in Canada, while the general age of consent is 16 years, a 14-year-old may legally give consent to sexual activity with a person not more than five years older in age, i.e. a person of the age 14-19.

In India, the failure of POCSO to address adolescent sexuality has also been recognised as a legal grey area by the courts. Learning from the legal interpretations around the world a progressive approach shall be reflected in the Indian laws.

• Societal changes: Acceptance of adolescent sexuality, comprehensive sexuality education, and a supportive state apparatus are imperative for creating options for a progressive society for adolescents to enjoy healthy and informed relations.
• Issue guidelines: Several High Courts and rights activists have opined for the amendment to the age of consent criteria and now the ball lies in the government’s court to look into the issue. Until the Parliament as the custodian of the rights of the citizens, initiates a process to address the issue, the Apex Court can provide guidelines.
• Awareness generation: Adolescents have to be made aware of the stringent provisions of the Act and also the IPC so that they can be saved from being at odds with the law unintentionally.
• Balanced approach: The Law Commission after the examination of various laws and the provisions therein should also try to make a balanced and progressive suggestion by accommodating the changing realities of the society as well as protecting the children against any unwarranted acts.

THE CONCLUSION: There is a compelling need for legal reform to revise the age of consent and prevent the criminalization of older adolescents engaging in consensual and non-exploitative acts. There is a need for gender awareness and sensitivity among the youth along with making necessary changes in the law to make it less rigorous and cognizant of the changed realities of societies around the world.

Mains Practice Questions:

Q.1 There is a need for legal reform to revise the age of consent and prevent the criminalization of older adolescents engaging in consensual and non-exploitative acts. Comment.

Q.2 The outcome of the interplay among law, technology and social change necessitates a relook into the fundamental assumptions about the level of psycho-social and physiological development of children. Elucidate.