Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• The U.K.­India relationship is alive with opportunity
• Needed, a well-crafted social security net for all
• Sunil Bharti Mittal writes: It’s time for Africa – and India’s G20 presidency is part of the opportunity

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

The U.K.­India relationship is alive with opportunity

News– The article explains the status of trade, investment and cultural relationship between India and UK.

What is the status of the trade and investment relationship between India and the UK?

The United Kingdom and India have a robust trading partnership. The value of bilateral trade was £36 billion in 2022.

India was the second-largest contributor of investment projects in the UK during the previous fiscal year. These projects amounted to 118. It generated 8,384 new jobs throughout the U.K.

The UK is the sixth-largest investor in India. It has infused $34 billion into India through foreign direct investment between April 2000 and March 2023.

U.K. enterprises are also actively generating employment opportunities and fostering growth. Presently, there are 618 U.K. companies operating in India.

They collectively generated a turnover of approximately $50 billion and employed around 466,640 individuals directly in 2021.

Business relationships are growing stronger. Recently, Tata Group selected the U.K. as the location for its inaugural gigafactory outside of India.

Both countries are negotiating a free trade agreement.

What is the status of cultural relationship between the two countries?

As per Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a “living bridge” exists between our nations. It is exemplified by our shared affinity for Bollywood.

The U.K. holds one of the largest audiences for Bollywood outside of India. It has served as the backdrop for iconic films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, which featured scenes shot at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Blenheim Palace.
There exists a vibrant Indian diaspora in the U.K. numbering over 1.6 million. Indian students represent one of the largest groups of international students in the U.K.

The UK has launched  ‘Alive with Opportunity‘, a £1.5 million marketing campaign. This campaign has been crafted to spotlight the strong connection between our nations and cultivate the ongoing exchange of people, ideas, and culture.

Needed, a well-crafted social security net for all

News: Social security in India has largely been ignored by the policymakers. The article explains the measures needed to enhance social security schemes in India.

What are the various findings of the data?

As per the Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2021-22, around 53% of India’s salaried workforce lacks social security benefits.

Further, only 1.9% of the poorest 20% of workers enjoy any such social security benefits. Similarly, only around 1.3% of active labor force members, who are gig workers, have access to social security.

India’s social security system is ranked very poorly, securing the 40th position out of 43 countries in Mercer CFS’s 2021 ranking.

What are the concerns with the existing social security benefits schemes?

The National Social Security Fund for unorganized sector workers began with ₹1,000 crore, intended for workers like weavers and rickshaw pullers.

However, this was insufficient compared to the required ₹22,841 crore. Additionally, an audit by the CAG found ₹1,927 crore unutilized.

Similarly, the National Social Assistance Programme aimed to provide a ₹75 monthly pension to elderly individuals without earners at home.

However, the Centre’s contribution has remained at ₹200 monthly since 2006, lower than the daily minimum wage.

Moreover, budget cuts have also impacted the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act along with other schemes.

How is the social security scheme in Brazil?

Brazil’s General Social Security Scheme offers income for workers facing income loss from accidents, disabilities, death, medical leave, family duties, unemployment, or imprisonment. Accessing benefits is easier in Brazil.

India, with around 91% of its workforce in the informal sector, also needs an accessible social security scheme like Brazil’s due to this large informal workforce.

Must Read: Social security and the story of two Budgets

What steps can be taken by India to enhance its social security schemes?

First, expanding employer and employee contributions within the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) system for formal workers.

Second, informal workers who earn a decent income could contribute a part of their earnings. This could motivate informal businesses to become more official and contribute more as well.

Third, Code on Social Security in 2020 and e-Shram platform are important measures taken for social security. However, e-Shram makes informal workers register themselves, without motivating employers to encourage registration.

The Code on Social Security (2020) consolidated existing social security laws, primarily focusing on formal enterprises and did not cover informal ones.

Fourth, there is a need to fund social security for India’s large workforce, beyond just construction and gig workers.

This includes a nationwide labor card and expanding successful schemes to other types of workers. Special attention is also required for females and migrant workers.

Fifth, Existing schemes like the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), Employees’ State Insurance Scheme (ESI), and National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) could be strengthened by increasing budgetary support and extending coverage.

Administrative enhancements are also needed due to overlapping responsibilities between the State and Centre.

Sixth, there is a need to raise awareness about social security benefits among workers. Organizations like the Self-Employed Women’s Association, running worker facilitation centers, could receive funding to carry out campaigns, particularly for women.

Sunil Bharti Mittal writes: It’s time for Africa – and India’s G20 presidency is part of the opportunity

News: In this article, author stresses Africa’s economic potential and urges worldwide cooperation to boost integration. The focus is on health, education, agriculture, industry, trade, infrastructure. The author also praises India’s efforts to strengthen African ties.

About  Africa’s economic potential.

Rich Resources: Africa has 30% of global mineral reserves, 12% of oil, and 8% of natural gas.

Population Growth: By 2050, Africa will contribute over half of the world’s projected population growth.

Young Workforce: Africa boasts a young and growing workforce, promising future economic growth.

Consumer Base: Rising disposable incomes indicate a growing consumer market.

Underutilization: Currently, Africa contributes under 3% to global manufacturing and trade.

Agriculture: About 70% of Africans work in agriculture, but there’s room for growth with improved training and resources.

Trade Agreement: The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) aims to boost intra-continental trade.

What steps have been taken by India for the better utilization of Africa’s potential?

India’s Steps for Utilizing Africa’s Potential:

G20 Advocacy: Under its G20 presidency, India vocalized the need for the African Union’s membership in the group.

Business-20 (B20) Action Council: India established the B20 Action Council titled ‘African Economic Integration: An Agenda for Global Business’ to promote Africa’s economic integration.

Focus on Inclusion: The council aligns with India’s vision for heightened participation of Africa in the Global South.

Economic Recommendations: Through the B20 Action Council, India aids in crafting recommendations for regional economic integration in Africa.

Strengthening Ties:  India’s Prime Minister has been active in fostering a stronger relationship with Africa, emphasizing its importance in the global arena.

What should be done to effectively integrate the African continent?

Human Capital Development: Prioritize health and education outcomes. The African Development Bank indicates a yearly need of $26 billion for healthcare. More schooling leads to increased earnings.

Revitalize Agriculture: Around 70% of the African population is in agriculture. Addressing gaps in finance, seeds, and fertilizers, and enhancing mechanization and value-addition is crucial.

Encourage Industrial Activities: Complement natural resources with higher productivity activities, emphasizing the empowerment of micro and small enterprises. This is in line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Maximize AfCFTA: The African Continental Free Trade Agreement needs to be fully implemented to improve competitiveness across the continent.

Strengthen Connectivity: Boost both physical and digital infrastructures, focusing on roads, railways, and digital links for comprehensive connectivity across Africa.

GS Paper 3

India has an opportunity to lead the fourth industrial revolution

News– The article explains the issues related to fourth industrial revolution in India.

What are some facts about fourth industrial revolution?

Fourth industrial revolution is marked by the convergence of the physical, digital, and biological realms.

It will deeply transform our lifestyles, occupations, and social interactions. This is driven by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and biotechnology.

How India has potential to lead the fourth industrial revolution?

India possesses a well-established ecosystem of financial data through initiatives like the Unified Payments Interface and the Aadhaar platform.

New platforms such as the one focused on logistics are on the horizon. These platforms will  transform various sectors ranging from finance to logistics. It will establish a digital infrastructure capable of advancing the fourth industrial revolution.

India has a substantial youthful population and an education system equipped to produce the necessary skill sets.

Indian higher education institutions having young and talented minds. They are enthusiastic about making a global impact.

India is a fertile ground for entrepreneurship. It  has emerged as one of the world’s fastest-growing startup hubs.

These startups can be empowered to take the lead in the fourth industrial revolution by channeling resources into innovative technology.

What are challenges in achieving the full potential of fourth industriual revolution?

There is insufficient public and private investment in research endeavors. Presently, India’s allocation for research and development remains below 0.7% of its GDP.

It is even lower than countries like Egypt and Brazil. In contrast, nations such as the United States, China, Israel, Japan, and South Korea allocate between 2% and 5% of their GDP towards scientific research.

To tackle this issue, the government has recently introduced the Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023, in the Parliament.

Way forward-

It is crucial to invest in higher education. Equipping universities with state-of-the-art technology and research facilities to foster innovation and entrepreneurship is required. Transitioning from a time-bound education system to continuous learning is imperative.

Facilitating ease of doing business is important. Entrepreneurs are the driving force behind the fourth industrial revolution. They require a favorable ecosystem.

The fourth industrial revolution isn’t solely about technology. It also revolves around people. It revolves around utilizing technology to enhance lives, generate opportunities, and construct a better future.

Deregulation and support for private higher education are other pivotal measures. India universities necessitate assistance to innovate, adapt to evolving industry demands, and equip Indian students with futuristic skills.

Universities must cultivate a culture of research and innovation, foster collaborations with industry, and embrace novel technologies and teaching methodologies.

On the moon, over the moon – Chandrayaan-3 signals the launch of India’s time in space exploration

News: Recently, Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed on the moon’s surface. India has now become the fourth country ever to soft-land a spacecraft on the moon and the first to do so in the South Polar region. 

What is the significance of this achievement?

Chandrayaan-3’s success reflects ISRO’s response to Chandrayaan-2’s failure. After the setback, ISRO modified 21 subsystems for the upgraded Chandrayaan-3 lander, featuring redundancies for backup.

Chandrayaan-3’s achievement also marks a crucial moment for India, especially since it has joined the Artemis Accords. It could become a leader in the lunar space missions.

Chandrayaan-3 has showcased India’s understanding of key interplanetary spacecraft types: orbiters, landers, and rovers.

Chandrayaan-3’s data is important because it’s the first mission to physically, chemically, and thermally analyze the soil, subsoil, and air near the moon’s South Pole.

What are upcoming space missions?

The recent lunar success ends India’s second exploration phase.

The third phase partners with Japan’s JAXA for LUPEX, focusing on studying water-ice at the moon’s South Pole. The mission will use the Chandrayaan-2 and -3 landing system.

Chandrayaan-3’s success also boosts ISRO’s confidence for upcoming missions: electric satellites, quantum communications, human space flight, reusable launch vehicles, etc.

Must Read: Chandrayaan-3: Small step to moon, giant leap for India’s space journey

What lies ahead?

India’s technological advantage should drive more exploration and scientific research in space. Prioritizing research and scientific aims over engineering demands will lead to better outcomes.

The involvement of private companies is crucial for bringing innovation and enhancing India’s space initiatives.

Perspectives on industrial policy

News: In this article, author discusses India’s protectionist policies in manufacturing and electronics, contrasting them with targeted approaches in the US and EU. They emphasize the benefits of trade liberalization, using Asia’s success in electronics as an example, and suggest India should integrate more with global value chains for competitiveness.

Why is India adopting protectionist policies?

Promotion of Domestic Manufacturing: India has introduced import restrictions on electronic goods like laptops and tablets. These restrictions add to already high tariffs, which are the highest among competing economies.

Boosting Industries with Financial Support: Through the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, India aims to financially support and enhance the growth of its electronics sector and other industries.

Broad Protectionism in India vs. Targeted Global Strategies: While the US and EU have targeted strategies for specific sectors, India’s protective measures span across 14 sectors. Some of these sectors, like textiles and food processing, don’t seem to have a strategic basis.

Electronics Sector’s Rapid Evolution: The electronics sector is marked by swift technological changes. India’s protective measures in this sector reflect the challenges of domestic manufacturing keeping pace with global advancements.

How do other economies approach industrial policy?

US’s Targeted Industrial Strategy

The US introduced the CHIPS and Science Act to promote domestic research and manufacturing in semiconductors and electric vehicles. This billion-dollar initiative aims for “strategic autonomy,” reducing dependence on countries like China and Russia. The US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) further boosts regional economic integration.

EU’s Green Agenda

The EU unveiled the Green Deal Industrial Plan, targeting carbon neutrality by 2050. A key tool, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), imposes taxes on imports from high carbon-output sectors, affecting major exporters like China and Russia.

Selective Protectionism in Developed Economies

Both the US and EU employ selective protectionist measures. While the US focuses on technological advancement and reducing geopolitical risks, the EU emphasizes environmental sustainability. Their strategies are designed with specific goals, such as combating climate change or ensuring technological advancements, unlike India’s broader approach.

What should be done?

Embrace Open Trade in Electronics: The electronics sector’s rapid technological pace makes import substitution challenging. Given the sector’s global value chains and the success of top exporters also being top importers, India should consider more open trade policies for easier cross-border movements.

Learn from Asian Economies: Countries like China and Vietnam integrated into electronics global value chains with open trade policies. China’s dual trade regime allowed duty-free entry for parts and components, boosting exports. Adopting such strategies can benefit India.

Combine Incentives with Trade Liberalization: Historically, countries like South Korea thrived after shifting from import-substitution to export expansion. India should merge its financial incentives with trade liberalization to expose producers to competition, promoting efficiency and innovation.

The promise of our goods and services tax is unfulfilled

News: The author discusses the shortcomings of India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) system, highlighting that it hasn’t met its promised benefits in revenue growth and GDP increase. This is mainly due to multiple tax rates, exemptions, and the concept of a revenue neutral rate.

What were the expected benefits from India’s Goods and Services Tax (GST) system?

Tax Collection Buoyancy: Due to inbuilt incentives of compliance, there was expected to be less scope of leakage.

Only Tax on Value-Added: The tax burden would only apply to the added value in the economic chain, preventing ‘tax on tax’.

Greater Compliance: Suppliers prefer dealing with parties who have proof of tax payment, ensuring a chain of compliance.

Inter-State Commerce Boost: GST removed inter-state barriers to commerce.

GDP Growth: A 2009 study by NCAER estimated that the GDP growth rate would rise by 2-2.5% annually because of GST.

Boost in Exports: The tax reform was expected to increase Indian exports by 10-14% year after year.

What are the major reasons for not fulfilling the expected benefits from the GST system?

Lack of Tax Buoyancy: Indirect taxes didn’t increase as expected. The Economic Survey of 2023 confirmed this.

GST Revenue vs. GDP Growth: GST revenues didn’t outpace nominal GDP growth. The actual tax rate was only 11.4% compared to the expected 17%.( according to Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council)

Rate Slabs Proliferation: Multiple rate slabs, with items at 28% or higher, and others at 0% or 3%, caused complexity and imbalance.

Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) Concept: Focusing on RNR led to misjudgment in predicting tax compliance behavior between pre and post-GST regimes.

Exemptions and Classifications: Many exemptions and arbitrary classifications resulted in disputes, litigation, and pending refunds.

Exclusions from GST: Large parts of the economy were left out of GST, which prevented lowering the overall tax rate.

Impact on Small Businesses: High rates and compliance costs hurt small businesses, even with a composite rate of 6%.

What should be done?

Reduce High Rates: To promote compliance and fairness, tax rates, especially those that are exceptionally high, need to be reduced. This includes rates on imports.

Simplify Compliance: Introduce a user-friendly app, similar to the Bhim app for UPI transactions. This will ease the GST entry process for small businesses and encourage better compliance.

Incorporate More Sectors: Many economic sectors remain outside GST. Bringing them under GST can help distribute the tax burden more evenly.

Revise Rate Slabs: The current variety of tax slabs complicates the system. A more uniform approach is required.

Minimize Exemptions: Overly specific exemptions and classifications lead to litigation. Reducing these can streamline the system.

Focus on Small Businesses: Adjustments should cater to small entrepreneurs, ensuring GST doesn’t disproportionately impact their profits.

Rajasthan’s Gig and Platform Workers Welfare Act: empowering the young worker

News: The author talks about Rajasthan Gig and Platform Workers Act, which benefits gig workers in India. It tackles problems like low pay and transparency. While praising its features, the author points out shortcomings and stresses effective implementation’s importance.

What are the main features of Rajasthan Gig and Platform Workers Act?

Unique ID for Workers:

Purpose: To recognize each gig worker and ensure their rights and benefits aren’t diluted or overlooked.

Impact: This identification can serve as a foundation for all future benefits, making sure no worker is left out.

Transaction Fee:

Why it’s levied: The fee is introduced as a consistent source of revenue for a welfare fund dedicated to the gig workers.

Transparency: With many companies, especially like Uber, using the “upfront pricing” model, workers often aren’t aware of the exact commission deducted. This fee calculation makes such details transparent.

Tripartite Welfare Board:

Composition: A combination of government officials, company representatives, and the workers themselves.

Inspiration: This model is inspired by the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) framework. A similar structure was used by Maharashtra’s Hamaal Panchayat to represent workers in the unorganized sector.

Benefits: Such a board prevents any one party (like a single company) from having undue influence. It ensures that all stakeholders have a voice, reducing the chances of corrupt practices or biases.

Data Transparency:

Requirement: Companies must share detailed transaction data, including the breakdown of charges and commissions.

Storage: This data will reside in a database controlled by the government.

Accessibility: Workers can access this data, ensuring they are aware of transaction details and promoting overall transparency in operations.

What are the issue with Rajasthan Gig and Platform Workers Act?

Employee Misclassification:

The Act avoids addressing the categorization of gig workers as “partners” or “aggregators”.

This classification has been a choice for companies, offering them protection against providing full employee benefits.

Globally, there’s a consensus that many gig workers fit employee definitions and should get associated protections.

Ambiguities in the Act:

Certain areas in the Act are not clearly defined, leading to potential confusion in its execution.

Areas like grievance resolution and data sharing need clearer guidelines for effective implementation.

Implementation Challenges:

Companies like Uber have a history of resisting legal requirements.

Ensuring these companies adhere to the Act’s provisions will be crucial.

Effective rules and systems need to be put in place to ensure the Act’s objectives are met.

What should be done?

Address Misclassification: Clearly define gig workers’ status, leaning towards employee recognition.

Clarify Ambiguities: Create clearer guidelines for areas like grievance resolution and data sharing.

Establish Effective Rules: Focus on rules and systems for executing the Act’s provisions without loopholes.

Involve Workers in Implementation: The worker mobilization that led to the legislation must continue during the Act’s implementation phase.

Expand and Improve: Use the Rajasthan Act as a model, refining it for adoption in other Indian states.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

National Curriculum Framework proposes Board exams twice a year

Source: The post is based on the article “National Curriculum Framework proposes Board exams twice a year”  published in The Hindu on 24th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Education has released the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE).

What is the National Curriculum Framework(NCF)?

Click Here to read

What is the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE)?

The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) is the curriculum framework for the 5+3+3+4 design of schooling as proposed by the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020).

The framework ensures that it covers all stages of schooling. It sets clear learning standards and competencies, enabling teachers to foster critical thinking, creativity, and genuine understanding.

The framework also empowers educators, encourages engaging pedagogies and emphasizes the importance of school culture and values.

Note: It’s important to note that the National Education Policy(NEP) 2020 and the NCFs, based on the education policy, are not binding on the states.

What are the key recommendations given in the framework?

Languages: Students in Classes 9 and 10 will need to learn three languages, of which at least two will be native to India. 

– In Classes 11 and 12, students will learn two languages, including one of Indian origin.

– Currently, students in Classes 9 and 10 study two languages, and students in Class 11 and 12 study one language.

Board Exams: All students will be allowed to take Board exams on at least two occasions during any given school year, with only the best score being retained.

No stream restrictions: For grades 11 and 12, the previously followed system of science, commerce and humanities streams has been eliminated.

– Instead, the NCF says that the students will be offered “choice-based courses” that will enable flexibility and remove hard separations between disciplines and academic areas.

Mandatory Subjects: So far, the students from Classes 9 to 12 studied five mandatory subjects, with an option of adding one more subject. Now, the number of mandatory subjects for Classes 9 and 10 is seven and it’s six for Classes 11 and 12.

Semester system: In the long term, all Boards should change to semester or term-based systems, where students can be tested in a subject as soon as they have completed the subject, which would reduce the content load being tested in any one examination.

Classes 6 to 8: NCF states that 20% content would be from the local level for the Social Science curriculum, 30% content would be from the regional level, 30% would be from the national level and 20% content would be global.

Environmental Education is given due emphasis across all stages of schooling, culminating in a separate area of study in the Secondary Stage.

India welcomes consensus-based approach to expand BRICS: PM

Source: The post is based on the article “India welcomes consensus-based approach to expand BRICS: PM”  published in The Hindu on 24th August 2023.

What is the News?

At the 15th BRICS summit in South Africa, India has affirmed its endorsement for the BRICS expansion based on consensus.

Current BRICS members include Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, whose names make up the group’s acronym.

What are the key highlights from PM’s address at the 15th BRICS summit?

5 Point Agenda To Boost BRICS Ties: The PM has outlined a comprehensive 5-point agenda to strengthen relationships between BRICS member nations. These are:

Space Exploration Collaboration: PM suggested establishing the BRICS Research Exploration Consilium to advance space research, monitoring, and global cooperation in this arena.

Education, Skill Development, and Technology Sharing: PM emphasized the need for future-ready societies.

– He highlighted India’s achievements in accessible education through the DIKSHA platform, Atal Tinkering labs for innovation, and AI-based language solutions. He offers these platforms for sharing with BRICS nations.

Skill Mapping and Mutual Growth: PM proposed utilizing skill-mapping to identify and leverage each nation’s strengths, fostering growth and development through collaborative efforts.

Collective Initiative for Big Cats Conservation: Given the rich diversity of big cat populations in BRICS countries, the Prime Minister suggested collective initiatives under the umbrella of International Big Cats conservation to protect these majestic species.

Traditional Medicine Repository: Acknowledging the unique traditional practices and ecosystems of BRICS nations, PM proposed joint efforts to develop a repository for traditional medicines.

Chandrayaan-3 | India lights up the dark side of the moon

Source: The post is based on the article “Chandrayaan-3 | India lights up the dark side of the moon”  published in The Hindu on 24th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Lander Module (LM) of the Chandrayaan-3 Mission has made a successful landing on the Moon’s surface.

With this, India became the first country to land near the Moon’s south pole and the fourth country after the erstwhile USSR, the U.S. and China to make a soft landing on the lunar surface.

What is Chandrayaan-3?

Click Here to read

What is Soft Landing?

Soft landing refers to the controlled descent and subsequent touchdown of a spacecraft on the lunar surface without causing significant damage to either the craft or its scientific instruments.

It is achieved by reducing the spacecraft’s speed gradually, allowing it to touch down gently.

Such landings ensure a gentle interaction with the Moon’s rugged terrain, enabling the collection of valuable data, exploration, and potentially serving as a precursor to human missions.

The landing site is near the south pole of the moon at 70 degrees latitude.

Why does ISRO want to explore the South Pole?

Click Here to read

What happens after Chandrayaan 3 successfully lands on the moon?

Spacecraft are often carrying certain instruments and experiments with them (called payloads) that observe and record what is happening in Space. This information is then relayed to Earth for scientists to analyze and study.

The six payloads on the Vikram lander and rover Pragyan remain the same as the previous mission.

There will be four scientific payloads on the lander to study lunar quakes, thermal properties of the lunar surface, changes in the plasma near the surface, and a passive experiment to help accurately measure the distance between Earth and the Moon. The fourth payload comes from NASA.

There are two payloads on the Rover, designed to study the chemical and mineral composition of the lunar surface and to determine the composition of elements such as magnesium, aluminum and iron in the lunar soil and rocks.

Meta launches multilingual AI translation model for 100 languages

Source: The post is based on the article “Meta launches multilingual AI translation model for 100 languages”  published in India TV on 23rd August 2023.

What is the News?

Meta, the technology company formerly known as Facebook has launched an advanced multilingual multimodal AI translation and transcription model named ‘SeamlessM4T.’

What is SeamlessM4T?

SeamlessM4T is the first all-in-one multilingual multimodal AI translation and transcription model.

Aim: To allow people to communicate effortlessly through speech and text across different languages. 

Features: 

It is capable of performing various tasks including speech-to-text, speech-to-speech, text-to-speech and text-to-text translations.

– For instance, it has speech recognition for nearly 100 languages and speech-to-text translation for nearly 100 input and output languages. It also supports speech-to-speech translation in around 100 input languages and around 35 output languages including English.

It performs the entire translation task in one go, unlike other large translation models that divide translation across different systems. 

It has the ability to recognize when a speaker is code-switching or when someone moves between two or more languages in one sentence. 

It also recognizes gender bias in languages and said the model can quantify gender bias in translations.

After Chandrayaan-3’s landing, the experiments: lunar quakes and water-ice on Moon

Source: The post is based on the article “After Chandrayaan-3’s landing, the experiments: lunar quakes and water-ice on Moon”  published in Indian Express on 24th August 2023.

What is the News?

India’s Moon mission Chandrayaan-3 scripted history by successfully landing on the lunar surface.

What is Chandrayaan-3?

Click Here to read

The Chandrayaan-3 payloads will further the science learnings of the two predecessor missions by studying lunar quakes, mineral compositions, and the electrons and ions near the surface of the Moon. 

The mission will attempt to study water-ice, the presence of which was detected by Chandrayaan-1.

Payloads of Chandrayaan-3: 

Lander: The lander has four experiments on board:

– Radio Anatomy of Moon Bound Hypersensitive ionosphere and Atmosphere(RAMBHA): It will study the electrons and ions near the surface of the moon and how they change over time.

– Chandra’s Surface Thermo Physical Experiment (ChaSTE): It will study the thermal properties of the lunar surface near the polar region. Chandrayaan-3 has landed around 70 degree south latitude, the closest that any spacecraft has reached to the lunar south pole.

– Instrument for Lunar Seismic Activity (ILSA): It will measure the lunar quakes near the landing site and study the composition of the Moon’s crust and mantle.

– LASER Retroreflector Array (LRA): It is a passive experiment sent by NASA that acts as a target for lasers for very accurate measurements for future missions.

Rover: There are two scientific experiments on the rover: 

– LASER Induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS): It will determine the chemical and mineral composition of the lunar surface.

– Alpha Particle X-ray Spectrometer (APXS): It will determine the composition of elements such as magnesium, aluminum, silicon, potassium, calcium, titanium, and iron in the lunar soil and rocks.

What are the key discoveries made by Chandrayaan 1 and Chandrayaan 2 Missions?

Water on the Moon: Chandrayaan-1 discovered water and hydroxyl molecules in the Moon’s atmosphere and on its surface. Mini-SAR and Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) helped detect water-ice in lunar craters.

Lava Tubes: The missions found an underground lava tube, potentially suitable for human habitation, providing protection from radiation, meteor impacts, temperature extremes, and dust storms.

Magma Ocean Theory: Chandrayaan-1’s M3 payload found crystals on the Moon’s surface that suggest it was once molten, supporting the magma ocean hypothesis.

Dynamic Moon: Contrary to the belief that the Moon was dormant, evidence of recent volcanic activity, including volcanic vents and lava channels, was discovered.The Moon’s interaction with the exosphere was observed, even without meteor impacts.

Solar Flares: Chandrayaan-2’s Solar X-Ray Monitor observed solar microflares and studied the Sun’s corona, providing insights into the mystery of coronal heating.

Mineral Mapping: The CLASS X-ray Fluorescence experiment mapped 95% of the lunar surface in X-rays, significantly more than previous missions, offering valuable data for future exploration.

LCA Tejas successfully test-fires Astra Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile

Source: The post is based on the article “LCA Tejas successfully test-fires Astra Beyond Visual Range air-to-air missile”  published in The Hindu on 24th August 2023.

What is the News?

The Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas has successfully test fired the Astra indigenous Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile.

What is Astra?

ASTRA is a state-of-the-art Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile.

Purpose: To engage and destroy highly maneuvering supersonic aerial targets.

Developed by: Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and other laboratories of the DRDO.

Features: Astra has a range of over 70 km and can fly towards its target at a speed of over 5,555 km per hour. The missile has all-weather day and night capability.

What is Astra Mk-1 Missile?

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What is Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas?

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Now, a bacteria that can eat methane. Can it reduce global warming? Researchers say it’s possible

Source: The post is based on the article “Now, a bacteria that can eat methane. Can it reduce global warming? Researchers say it’s possible”  published in Down To Earth on 22nd August 2023.

What is the News?

A study has found that a specific bacteria named Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C could help reduce methane emissions from places like landfills and oil wells.

Background:

The rapid increase of the methane in the atmosphere creates great urgency to develop and deploy technologies for methane mitigation. 

One approach to removing methane is to use bacteria called methanotrophs for which methane is their carbon and energy source.

Methanotrophs naturally convert methane to CO2 and biomass, a value-added product and a co-benefit of methane removal.

But methanotrophs grow best when the methane concentration is around 5,000-10,000 parts per million (ppm).

However, methane levels in key emission sites are around 500 ppm. So the researchers screened a range of existing methanotrophs to identify those that consume such low methane (500 ppm) at significantly higher rates.

They found that Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C performed the best at 500 ppm.

What is Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C?

Methylotuvimicrobium buryatense 5GB1C is a bacterial strain that consumes methane.

It can grow at low methane concentrations ranging from 200-1,000 ppm. These features make this strain a promising candidate for methane removal technology.

Significance: Methane is a significant contributor to global warming, It is over 85 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2) on a 20-year timescale. It is responsible for nearly 30 percent of the total global warming.

– Hence, this bacteria, if used on a large scale, could prevent 240 million tonnes of methane from entering the atmosphere by 2050.

– It can also help reduce the global temperature rise by about 0.21-0.22 degrees Celsius by 2050 by removing a substantial amount of methane.

Central Vigilance Commission reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds

Source: The post is based on the article “Central Vigilance Commission reconstitutes advisory board on bank frauds”  published in The Hindu Business Line on 21st August 2023.

What is the News?

The Central Vigilance Commission(CVC) has reconstituted the advisory board on Banking and Financial Frauds (ABBFF).

What is the Advisory board on Banking and Financial Frauds(ABBFF)?

Constituted by: Central Vigilance Commission(CVC)

Purpose: To conduct the first level examination of bank frauds before recommendations or references are made to investigative agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Composition: It consists of the Chairman and four other members and the tenure of the Chairman/ Members would be for two years.

Functions of the board: To examine the role of officials/ wholetime directors (including ex-officials/ ex-wholetime directors) in public sector banks, public sector insurance companies; and public sector financial institutions in case of frauds amounting to ₹ 3 crore and above.

– To periodically carry out frauds analysis in the financial system and give inputs, if any, for policy formulation related to the frauds, to RBI and CVC.

– CVC or CBI may also refer any case/technical matter to the ABBFF for its advice.

– To provide advice within a month of receiving initial references from the Ministry, Department, CVC, or investigative agencies.

Headquarters: New Delhi

Next mission to Moon is with Japanese, more of Chandrayaan

Source: The post is based on the article “Next mission to Moon is with Japanese, more of Chandrayaan”  published in Indian Express on 24th August 2023.

What is the News?

ISRO is preparing for one more lunar mission. This one will be in collaboration with Japanese space agency, JAXA. This mission will be called LUPEX or Lunar Polar Exploration Mission.

What is the LUPEX Mission?

LUPEX is a joint mission of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) and  Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Aim: 1) To explore lunar polar region suitability for establishing a base on the Moon for sustainable activities 2) obtain knowledge regarding the availability of lunar water-ice resources and 3) demonstrate lunar and planetary surface exploration technologies such as vehicular transport and overnight survival. 

To be Launched in: 2024-25

Contributions: For the LUPEX mission, the launch vehicle and rover are supposed to be contributed by the Japanese agency while the lander will come from ISRO. 

Proposed Instruments of LUPEX: 

Permittivity and Thermo-physical investigation for Moon’s Aquatic Scout (PRATHIMA): It aims to detect and quantify water-ice mixed with lunar soil, achieving in-situ detection and measurement of water content.

Lunar Electrostatic Dust EXperiment (LEDEX): It aims to detect the presence of charged dust particles and to confirm the dust levitation process in the volatile-rich polar region, and to estimate approximate dust size and flux of charged, levitated dust particles/

National Judicial Data Grid : a database of orders, judgments and case details created as an online platform under the eCourts Project

Source: The post is based on the article “National Judicial Data Grid : a database of orders, judgments and case details created as an online platform under the eCourts Project”  published in PIB on 23rd August 2023.

What is the News?

This article provides information about the National Judicial Data Grid.

What is the National Judicial Data Grid?

National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) is a database of orders, judgments and case details of 18,735 District & Subordinate Courts and High Courts.

It was created as an online platform under the eCourts Project.

Features: Data is updated on the grid on a near real-time basis by the connected District and Taluka courts. 

– The grid provides data relating to judicial proceedings/decisions of all computerized district and subordinate courts of the country.

– Case data is available for both civil and criminal cases with the ability to perform drill-down analysis based on the age of the case as well as the State and District.

Significance of the platform: NJDG works as a monitoring tool to identify, manage and  reduce pendency of cases. 

– It helps in providing timely inputs for making policy decisions to reduce delays in disposing of cases and helps in reducing case pendency. 

– It also facilitates better monitoring of court performance and systemic bottlenecks, and, thus, serves as an efficient resource management tool.

Recognition: The World Bank has praised the National Judicial Data Grid in the Ease of Doing Business report for 2018.It has said that the grid has made it possible to generate case management reports, thereby making it easier to enforce contracts.

The following today’s current affairs articles have been covered in 7 PM Explained section of the day:

7 PM Editorial of the day: [Yojana August 2023 Summary] Vision For Industry: Explained, pointwise