Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• Eye on Emirati flows – There are both risks and benefits in the rupee-dirham settlement system
• Childline has worked for suffering children – government doesn’t need to take over
• A Bill that fences in the right to information

GS Paper 3

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

Eye on Emirati flows – There are both risks and benefits in the rupee-dirham settlement system

Source: The post is based on the articles

“Eye on Emirati flows – There are both risks and benefits in the rupee-dirham settlement system” published in The Hindu on 18^th July 2023 and

“Gently Pushing Rupee – Steady steps promoting rupee-based foreign trade are pragmatic. Internationalization follows economic heft” published in The Times of India on 18^th July 2023

Syllabus: GS 2 – Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests

Relevance: About the MoU between India and the UAE

News: Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of the UAE agreed to establish a framework for enabling the use of their local currencies for cross-border transactions.

What is the agreement about?

As per the MoU, all current account payments, including those involving the two countries’ exporters and importers, and certain “permitted” capital account transactions could be settled using either the rupee or the dirham.

The two central banks plan to create a Local Currency Settlement System and potentially link their payments messaging systems in the future.

This would lead to the development of a rupee-dirham foreign exchange market that would help in pricing the two currencies independent of their exchange rates with other currencies, such as the dollar and the euro.

This would also eliminate exchange rate risks for Indian and Emirati businesses when quoting prices for goods and services. It will enhance the ease of doing business and boost trade between the two countries.

The establishment of the India-UAE local currency settlement system has the potential to serve as a model for other bilateral currency agreements.

What is the purpose behind such an agreement?

To promote bilateral use of their local currencies and reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar as an intermediary for settling transactions and enhancing economic ties between the two nations.

It is also a step towards internationalizing the Indian rupee. This move aligns with India’s growing economy and its increasing share in global trade.

World Bank estimated that India was the first country set to receive an annual remittance flow of more than $100 billion. Linkage of India’s digital payments systems to other central banks will provide a further boost to remittance flows.

The RBI has indicated that increased investment by UAE-based firms is one possibility for utilizing rupee payments.

What are other measures taken by the RBI to promote rupee based international transactions?

Click Here to Read

What are the challenges associated with the agreement between India and the UAE?

The success of the agreement will depend on the level of adoption by businesses in both countries. After the bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the UAE’s trade surplus with India has increased.

As a result, Emirati businesses must identify profitable ways to use potential rupee flows if they choose to accept payments in the Indian currency.

What can be the way ahead?

Despite such possibilities, in a rapidly evolving global environment, businesses will base their decisions on economic logic. Policymakers must also remain aware of the risks arising from such moves even as they eye the opportunities.

Moreover, RBI’s gradual approach is pragmatic as it allows retail transactions at a lower transaction cost and encourages rupee settlement for cross-border trades.

However, enhanced internationalization requires GOI to revisit its restrictive foreign trade and capital account policies.

Childline has worked for suffering children – government doesn’t need to take over

Source– The post is based on the article “Childline has worked for suffering children – government doesn’t need to take over” published in “The Indian Express” on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population

Relevance: Issues related to children

News- The Centre has decided to take over the child helpline service operated by NGOs since its inception in 1998.

How has the government ‘s approach towards protection of vulnerable people changed over time?

The prevailing viewpoint was that the care and protection of the vulnerable was not primarily a law-and-order issue.

However, there was more emphasis on law enforcement. It ignored the fact that crime is the result of dysfunctional society, and interaction between the individual and his environment.

The report of the All-India Committee (1980-83) on Jail Reforms had nudged the government to evolve a correctional strategy. It led to the creation of a Ministry of Welfare, which was later renamed Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The committee recommended a holistic approach to protecting against crime and rehabilitating offenders through institutional and non-institutional services. Such an approach involved the participation of both the state and the civil society.

The Juvenile Justice Act 1986 superseded the various state Children’s Acts of 1956.

The “chota jails” for destitute children converted into state-run children’s homes under the new Act. Subsequent amendments allowed NGOs to set up homes for children under the close watch of the state.

Why Centre’s decision to take over the child helpline service operated by NGOs is not a step in the right direction?

The Childline Foundation was constituted with members drawn from civil society, academia and the corporate world. It was assigned the toll-free national child helpline number 1098 by Department of Telecommunications

The NGOs working with street children have the responsibility to operate the helpline. Surveys indicated that children were reluctant to contact a helpline manned by government employees, especially the police.

Their peers were better positioned to receive these phone calls, comprehend the seriousness of the issue, and determine the exact location of the distressed child.

Over a span of 25 years, Childline emerged as the crucial support system for vulnerable children. It helps orphans, destitute individuals, runaway youths, and lost children.

When the police encounter an unattended child, they turn to Childline as their initial point of contact. Additionally, the district administration relies on Childline’s assistance in rescuing child labourers and aiding drug addicts.

Concerned citizens can dial 1098 to report children in need of help.

A Bill that fences in the right to information

Source– The post is based on the article “A Bill that fences in the right to information” published in “The Hindu” on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 2 – Governance

Relevance– Issues related to Right to Information Act

News- Union Cabinet has approved the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill. It makes some changes to the Right to Information.

What are some facts about the RTI Act?

The Indian Right to Information Act has been in existence since 2005. It empowers citizens and recognises them as true rulers.

It was the result of efforts by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan.

Its preamble states that democracy requires informed citizens and transparency in governance to hold government accountable and curb corruption.

It leads to an efficient government while preserving the ideals of democracy.

Those in power structure are threatened by this transfer of power to the ordinary citizen. Citizens have used this democratic instrument to expose wrongdoing and corruption.

What is the basis of refusal of information by public authorities in the RTI Act?

Ten categories of information have been exempted from disclosure to protect some legitimate interests and working of the government. These are outlined in Section 8(1).

The most widely misused exemption is Section 8(1)(j). It exempts personal information which is not associated with public activity, or which harms the privacy of an individual.

It has a provision which states the information, which cannot be denied to the Parliament or a State Legislature, shall not be denied to any person.

How Section 8(1)(j) has been misused by public authorities?

Many officials refuse information by claiming that it was personal information, and they would not give it. It has been used to cover arbitrary, corrupt or illegal acts of government officials.

Some examples are denial of details of the beneficiaries of the Prime Minister’s fund; bogus caste certificates, education certificates: verification of affidavits of elected representatives; unfair assessment of students and job seekers in government; file notings and minutes of meetings.

How will the proposed Data Protection Bill have an impact on the RTI Act?

The proposed Data Protection Bill plans to amend RTI Act Section 8(1)(j). It will exempt information under 8(1)(j), which is related to personal information.

If this amendment is made, all information which can be related to a person could be legally denied.

Most information could be shown as being related to a person. Whenever a PIO wants to deny information, he will be able to link it to some person.

The proposed Bill defines the term ‘person’ very widely. It includes individuals, companies, and the state. Most information except budgets would be linked to one of these.

Thus, the RTI would become a Right to Deny Information. It will be an ineffective tool.

GS Paper 3

How are cheetahs faring in India?

Source– The post is based on the article “How are cheetahs faring in India?” published in “The Indian Express” and “Cheetah Questions” published in “The Times of India” on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Environment – Biodiversity Conservation

Relevance: Animal conservation and protection

News- Five of the relocated cheetahs and three out of four cubs born in India have passed away.

What is Project Cheetah?

Project Cheetah is an initiative in India aimed at relocating cheetahs.

The objective is to introduce 5-10 cheetahs each year for the next ten years, with the goal of establishing a self-sustaining population of approximately 35 cheetahs.

In South Africa and Namibia cheetahs inhabit enclosed reserves. India’s approach involves allowing the cheetahs to thrive in natural, wilderness settings.

Currently, 11 of the relocated cheetahs are in the true wild, while four are being kept in specialized enclosures.

Unfortunately, five of the relocated cheetahs and three out of four cubs born in India have passed away.

Why is there a need for a medical examination of the death of cheetahs?

One of the dead cheetahs had a wound on its neck. He was infected with maggots. The larvae of the maggots were also found on the radio-collar. There was a chance that chafing from the collar is responsible for infection.

Radio collars pose obstructions for cheetahs. The animal is unable to lick itself. It is compounded by the moisture generated by monsoon.

The injured African animal may have been exposed to parasites that Indian big cats are typically immune to.

Another cheetah died after being attacked by a female cheetah, which took place within their enclosure.

In May, three out of four cubs passed away due to heat and malnourishment, while an adult female succumbed to injuries sustained during a conflict among the animals.

Two other deaths occurred in February and April, caused by renal infection and cardiovascular issues, respectively.

According to the Ministry of Environment, cheetah cubs in the wild experience a significantly high mortality rate compared to tigers and lions. They have a survival rate of only 10%. However, deaths in Kuno, except for one, have occurred among the cheetahs in the enclosure.

What are issues related to the cheetah relocation programme?

Kuno National Park has too little space and prey for 20 cheetahs. It has three cheetahs per 100 sq. km compared to one cheetah per 100 sq. km in Africa. A cheetah’s home range is over 1,600 sq. km of unfenced territory. Whereas area of Kuno is 750 sq. km.

The prolonged confinement of cheetahs in quarantine has had adverse effects on their ability to adapt and has led to psychological adjustment issues.

Unlike tigers and leopards, cheetahs are comparatively fragile creatures and are more prone to sustaining fatal injuries in the wild.

At present, Indian cheetahs do not encounter competition from similar predators like lions and leopards. However, it remains uncertain whether these animals can effectively establish their presence in India over time.

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

Source: The post is based on the article “Chandrayaan-3: Small step to moon, giant leap for India’s space journey” published in “The Indian Express” on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Awareness in the fields of Space

News: In this article author discusses the journey and significance of India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon, its role in promoting India’s global space reputation, private sector involvement, international collaborations through the Artemis Accords, and its inspiring effect on future generations.

How the India’s private sector contribution to Chandrayaan-3?

1.Chandrayaan-3 marks the first time India’s private sector has collaborated with ISRO on a major space mission.

2.The lunar lander and rover for the mission were developed by a consortium of Indian companies in partnership with ISRO laboratories.

3.India’s private sector also contributed to the development of ground control systems for the mission, working alongside ISRO.

4.Data from the mission will be processed and analyzed largely by India’s private sector.

5.This collaboration illustrates the Indian government’s commitment to its Space Policy 2023, which aims to boost the commercial presence of India’s space program.

6.By collaborating on Chandrayaan-3, the private sector showcases its capabilities, potentially attracting more investment and positioning itself as a significant player in the international space industry.

What are the Significances of Chandrayaan-3?

Advancement in lunar exploration: Chandrayaan-3 is a significant stride in India’s lunar exploration program. The mission aims to soft land near the Moon’s unexplored South Pole, where it will collect important data about geographical features and potential resources. It will contribute valuable insights to our understanding of the Moon, and by extension, Earth.

Boosting India’s global space reputation: This mission also plays a critical role in building India’s reputation in the international space community. Success in such a complex endeavor will demonstrate India’s growing space capabilities to the world.

Promoting commercial presence in space: Chandrayaan-3 is in alignment with the Indian government’s Space Policy 2023, which aims to stimulate a flourishing commercial presence in space. The mission is a partnership between ISRO and the Indian private sector, highlighting the potential for private industry’s involvement in future space endeavors.

Influencing international collaboration: India, as a signatory to the Artemis Accords, is collaborating with other leading space agencies for Moon exploration. The success of Chandrayaan-3 could provide valuable data for these international collaborations and potentially guide future exploration efforts.

Pioneering technological boundaries: India’s participation in worldwide projects like the Thirty Meter Telescope, CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, LIGO-India, and the Square Kilometer Array in Radio Astronomy is evidence of its growing technological prowess. Chandrayaan-3 further cements India’s position as a technological leader in space and astrophysics sectors.

Inspiring future generations: The mission is expected to inspire India’s future scientists and engineers, fostering a culture of scientific research and technological innovation within the country. This impact on the nation’s human capital is invaluable and hard to quantify.

Express View on employment: The stress signals

Source: The post is based on the article “Express View on employment: The stress signals” published in “The Indian Express” on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment.

News: In this article the author discusses the rising demand for work under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), despite economic growth. They highlight high unemployment rates, especially among urban youth, and an increase in credit card defaults, indicating economic stress despite the expected growth.

About current economic and employment situation in India

1. India’s economy is expected to grow at 8% in the first quarter of the current financial year.
2. Demand for MGNREGA work is increasing, indicating a lack of productive job opportunities in rural areas. In June, 3.04 crore households availed work under the scheme.
3. The unemployment rate among urban youth is high, at 17.3% in the first quarter of 2023.For males, it was 15.6%, but for females, it was even higher at 22.9%.

How has MGNREGA evolved over the years?

Rising demand: Demand for work under MGNREGA has been consistently rising. In 2015-16, 7.2 crore individuals were part of the scheme. This number increased to 7.88 crore by 2019-20.

Wage increase: The wage rate under MGNREGA increased from Rs 218 per person per day in 2022-23 to Rs 233.

Pandemic impact on MGNREGA: The pandemic caused a surge in demand for MGNREGA, with participation reaching 11.19 crore in 2020-21 and 10.61 crore in 2021-22. Even after a drop to 8.76 crore in 2022-23, it was higher than pre-pandemic levels.

What are the implications of high unemployment rates?

Effects on the economy: High unemployment rates can harm the economy. The demand for work under the MGNREGA scheme has risen over the years, indicating that more people are seeking employment. It implies fewer productive job opportunities in rural areas.

Impact on credit defaults and bad loans: Rising unemployment may increase credit defaults and bad loans. For instance, bad loans in the credit card segment rose to Rs 4,073 crore at the end of 2022-23 from Rs 3,122 crore the previous year. High unemployment can worsen this situation as people struggle to repay loans.

What should be done?

1. Economic growth should be inclusive, providing more productive job opportunities, especially in rural areas.
2. Measures should be taken to reduce the high unemployment rate among urban youth.
3. Strategies to curb the rise in credit card defaults and bad loans are necessary.
4. Areas showing stress, like MGNREGA demand, need close monitoring.

Misplaced interest: Govt equity in chip design firms is impractical

Source: The post is based on the article “Misplaced interest: Govt equity in chip design firms is impractical” published in Business standard on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- Indigenization of technology (Science and technology)

News: In this article author discusses the Indian government’s strategy to stimulate the domestic semiconductor industry, pointing out potential drawbacks due to its focus on manufacturing, bureaucratic processes, past private sector partnerships, and neglect of the broader economy.

About Government’s approach to Boosting the Domestic Semiconductor Industry

1. Government aims to boost the domestic semiconductor industry.
2. They will underwrite up to 50% of foundry costs.
3. They’ve offered ₹55,392 crore production-linked incentives.
4. The Design-Linked Incentive (DLI) scheme supports local companies.
5. Goal: retain intellectual property rights within the country.
6. Aim to counter brain drain to Silicon Valley.
7. Plan to take equity stakes in domestic chip design companies.

What are the major concerns in the Government’s Approach?

Overemphasis on manufacturing: The government’s strategy might be too focused on manufacturing, while the core value in the semiconductor business lies in design. Major players like Intel, Qualcomm, Nvidia, and AMD have chosen to invest in refining technology rather than in costly manufacturing processes.

Inadequate acknowledgement of industry dynamics: The semiconductor design industry thrives on speed, competitiveness, and resilience to failures. The government’s lengthy bureaucratic processes may stifle this innovative environment.

Past unsuccessful partnerships: Government’s previous collaborations with the private sector, like with Balco and Hindustan Zinc, cast doubt on its capability to stimulate the required competitive dynamism in the semiconductor industry.

Neglecting broader economic context: The approach of picking industry champions without considering the wider economy could yield minimal results. A holistic approach that stimulates market creation, similar to how Silicon Valley focused on the consumer goods market, could be more effective.

What should be done?

Streamline processes: Reduce bureaucracy to foster a fast-paced, innovative industry environment.

Improve private sector partnership: Learn from past experiences to build strong, successful collaborations.

Integrated approach: Don’t select industry champions in isolation; consider the wider economy.

Market creation: Help chip designers establish markets in India and abroad.

Enhance ease of doing business: Reduce frictions, making it easier for companies to operate.

Learn from successful models: Emulate Silicon Valley’s strategy of focusing on fast-growing consumer goods markets.

Moving ahead with small modular reactors

Source: The post is based on the article “Moving ahead with small modular reactors” published in Business standard on 18th July 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3- infrastructure (Energy)

News: In this article author discusses India’s strategic shift towards smaller nuclear plants, specifically Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and highlights the role of the private sector and policy changes in driving this transition.

About India’s nuclear energy mix

Nuclear power represents 1.7% of India’s total installed power capacity as of March 2022.

By 2032, nuclear power is predicted to constitute 2.2% of capacity and 4.4% of gross generation.

India aims to raise nuclear power to 10% of its energy mix by 2035, requiring a significant increase in nuclear capacity.

What is Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) Technology?

Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors with a maximum capacity of 300 MW per unit. They are smaller, simpler, and safer than traditional reactors. SMRs can be factory-made and transported to a site for installation.

SMRs are economical and time-efficient, and unlike traditional reactors that require refueling every 1-2 years, SMRs only need refueling every 3-7 years.

What are the global advances in SMR technology?

Worldwide, over 70 SMR designs are under development in 17 countries.

Notable examples include the U.S.’s NuScale Power company, whose 600 MW SMR plant design has been approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

In Russia, a 77 MW SMR, Akademik Lomonosov, was operational as early as 2019.

China has also commissioned a high-temperature gas-cooled modular pebble bed demonstration SMR.

In the U.K., Rolls-Royce is setting up a manufacturing facility for SMRs.

What is India’s strategy for nuclear energy transition?

Switching to small reactors: India’s strategy for nuclear energy transition involves moving from larger to smaller nuclear power plants. The country is focusing on the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which are simpler, safer, and more cost-effective.

Engaging the private sector: The Indian government is advocating for private sector involvement in this initiative. It’s encouraging public-private partnerships for setting up SMRs across the country, inviting both domestic and foreign private companies to participate.

Setting future goals: As of March 2022, nuclear power represents 1.7% of India’s total installed power capacity. The goal is to raise nuclear power to 10% of India’s energy mix by 2035. This would require increasing nuclear capacity to approximately 90GW, a target that may be achieved through the development of SMRs.

What are the major suggestions given by Niti Aayog for SMR?

The NITI Aayog has published a report titled “The Role of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in Energy Transition.” In this report, it suggests:

Private sector participation: NITI Aayog, India’s policy think tank, suggests that the private sector should be actively involved in setting up Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). It believes this can be achieved through public-private partnerships (PPPs), which would offer shared responsibilities and benefits.

Regulatory changes: The think tank recommends creating a comprehensive regulatory regime with stringent safety standards and regular monitoring to ensure the safe operation of SMRs.

Modifying foreign investment policies: NITI Aayog proposes changes to India’s foreign investment policies to enable both domestic and foreign private companies to participate in the country’s SMR development. It aims to attract global nuclear power leaders, such as Westinghouse Electric, GE-Hitachi, Electricite de France, and Rosatom, to invest in India’s nuclear sector.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Union Minister says, India has developed the world’s latest Steel Slag Road technology

Source: The post is based on the article “Union Minister says, India has developed the world’s latest Steel Slag Road technology”  published in PIB on 17th July 2023

What is the News?

The Union Minister of Science & Technology has announced that India has developed the world’s latest Steel Slag Road technology. 

What is Slag?

Slag is made up of impurities melted out of the ore during the steel-making process in most of the Steel Plants.

Use of Steel Slag in Road construction:

CSIR- Central Road Research Institute (CRRI), New Delhi has pioneered the development of use of Steel slag in road construction.

In 2022, Surat in Gujarat became the first city in the country to get a processed steel slag (industrial waste) road.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has also used steel slag to construct a long-lasting heavy-duty road at Arunachal Pradesh along the India-China border area.

Besides, India’s largest road building agency, National Highway Authority of India successfully tested the Steel Slag Road technology on NH-66 (Mumbai- Goa).

What are the advantages of using Steel Slag in road construction?

Environment friendly: India is the world’s second largest steel producer. For per ton of steel production around 200 kg Steel slag is generated as solid waste. 

– Steel slag generation in the country is about 19 Million tons per annum and expected to reach 60 million tons by 2030.  

– This huge quantity of steel slag is piled up in and around the steel plants as big mounds and becoming the source of air, water, and land pollution. 

– Hence, the use of steel slag in road construction is an environmentally friendly cost-effective method.

Cheaper: Steel slag road costs are about 30% cheaper than conventional making of roads.

Less Maintenance cost: Steel slag roads have been found to last ten years as compared to three to four years for bitumen roads, thus bringing down sharply the maintenance costs.

More durable: Steel slag roads are more durable and resistant to weather unpredictability.

13.5 crore Indians move out of multidimensional poverty in five years: Niti Aayog report

Source: The post is based on the article “13.5 crore Indians move out of multidimensional poverty in five years: Niti Aayog report”  published in The Hindu on 18th July 2023

What is the News?

Niti Aayog has published the second edition of National Multidimensional Poverty Index: A progress of Review 2023.

What is the National Multidimensional Poverty Index?

Click Here to read

National MPI 2023 is based on the latest National Family Health Survey (2019-21) and represents progress made by India in reducing multidimensional poverty between the two surveys, NFHS-4 (2015-16) and NFHS-5 (2019-21).

What are the key findings of the National Multidimensional Poverty Index 2023?

Source: The Print

About 135.5 million (13.5 crore) persons have exited poverty between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

– In 2015-16, one in four Indians (24.85%) met the criteria for multidimensional poverty. By 2019-21, this percentage decreased to 14.96% or one in seven.

Rural areas saw a faster reduction in their MPI value, compared to urban areas. The incidence of poverty fell from 32.59% to 19.28% in rural areas compared to a decline from 8.65% to 5.27% in urban areas between 2015-16 and 2019-21.

Uttar Pradesh has registered the largest decline in the number of poor with 3.43 crore people escaping multidimensional poverty.

The number of states with less than 10 per cent people living in multidimensional poverty doubled in the five years between 2016 and 2021.

– In 2015-16 (NFHS-4), only seven states had less than 10% of their population living in multidimensional poverty — Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Kerala.

– 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.

Except for Bihar, no other state in India has more than one-third of its population living in multidimensional poverty.

– Even Bihar has also made remarkable improvement. In 2015-16, over 51.89 per cent of Bihar’s population lived in multidimensional poverty. By 2019-21, the figure had dropped to 33.76 per cent.

Why are Hollywood writers and actors on strike?

Source: The post is based on the article “Why are Hollywood writers and actors on strike?”  published in The Hindu on 18th July 2023

What is the News?

Hollywood actors joined the ongoing strike of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) after their contract negotiations with studios broke down. 

This is Hollywood’s biggest labour fight in six decades and marks the first dual strike of both writers and actors since 1960.

Why are Hollywood writers and actors protesting?

Pay issues: The profits of the entertainment industry have increased from $5 billion in 2000 to a whopping $30 billion in 2019.

– But the average pay of the writer-producer position has gone down by 4% over the past decade. Adjusted for inflation, this is a 23% decline.

Use of Artificial Intelligence(AI): AI has emerged as a crucial area where actors and writers want production houses to limit the use of AI so their professions are not endangered in the near future. 

– Writers are demanding that AI not be used to create new and unpaid content from their original work and their scripts not be used to train AI like language learning models. 

– As for the actors, they do not want studios to use their AI-created likeness or performances without their consent or without compensation.

What is the economic impact of this strike?

The strike does not just affect its participants but a large number of those employed in production related jobs and tertiary industries such as costume, catering, lighting, for hire location providers, and so on. 

The last writers’ strike in 2007 which lasted 100 days cost $2.1 billion to California’s economy alone.

RBI to detail SOP for banks to help expedite rupee trade

Source: The post is based on the article “RBI to detail SOP for banks to help expedite rupee trade”  published in The Hindu on 18th July 2023

What is the News?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to issue a standard operating procedure for banks to expeditiously issue FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate) and Electronic bank realization certificates(e-BRCs).

This is being done to overcome the problems faced by exporters with the rupee-based trading mechanism for foreign trade.

What is FIRC (Foreign Inward Remittance Certificate)?

Source: The Hindu

FIRC is a document that acts as a testimonial for all the inward remittances entering India. 

Most of the statutory authorities accept this document as proof that an individual or a business, such as a limited company, partnership firm, sole proprietorship firm and others, has received a payment in foreign currency from outside the country.

What is an Electronic Bank Realization Certificate(e-BRC)?

An Electronic Bank Realization Certificate(e-BRC) is a vital digital certificate for export businesses. 

A bank issues the e-BRC to confirm that the buyer made payment to the exporter against the export of services or goods.

Businesses availing export benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) must produce a valid BRC. The BRC is the proof of realization of payment against exports.

New guidelines for designation of senior advocates in the SC: What they say

Source: The post is based on the article “New guidelines for designation of senior advocates in the SC: What they say”  published in Indian Express on 17th July 2023

What is the News?

The Supreme Court has issued new guidelines on designating lawyers as ‘Senior Advocates’ in the apex court.

The guidelines were issued by the court following the judgment in the Indira Jaising Vs Supreme Court case, which modified the criteria.

What is a Senior advocate?

Section 16 (1) of the Advocates Act, 1961 states there shall be two classes of advocates, namely, senior advocates and other advocates.

Section 16 (2) allows an advocate to be designated as a senior advocate if he consents to it and if the Supreme Court or a High Court is of opinion that by virtue of his ability, he is deserving of such distinction.

What is Indira Jaising Vs Supreme Court case?

Click Here to read

What are the new guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on designating lawyers as ‘Senior Advocates’?

Committee for Designation of Senior Advocates: All matters relating to the designation of Senior Advocates in the Supreme Court of India shall be dealt with by a Permanent Committee.

– The committee will be composed of the following: (1) Chief Justice of India Chairperson (2) Two senior-most Judges of the Supreme Court of India (3) Attorney General for India (4) A member of the Bar, nominated by the Chairperson and Members.

– The committee will meet twice a year. The Committee shall have a permanent secretariat. The composition of the Secretariat will be decided by the Chief Justice of India in consultation with the members of the Committee.

Eligibility to be designated as a Senior advocate: The candidates need to be at least ten years’ standing as an Advocate or ten years’ combined standing as an Advocate and as a District and Sessions Judge or as a Judicial Member of any Tribunal in India to be designated as Senior Advocates at the Supreme Court.

– They must practice mainly in the Supreme Court but advocates with domain expertise of practising before specialized Tribunals may be given concession.

– The age limit for applying for the designation of Senior Advocate is now 45 years unless the age limit is relaxed. The age limit can be relaxed by the Committee.

Role of Secretariat: The Secretariat of the Committee shall initiate the process for designation of Senior Advocate at least once every year by inviting applications from Advocates-on-Record/Advocates for designation as Senior Advocates. 

— The Committee will examine each application on the basis of the data provided by the Secretariat and make its overall assessment on the basis of a point- based format.

– The points will be given to the advocate based on years of practice, pro-bono work undertaken, judgements, publications and a personality test.

– The Committee may short-list the number of candidates to be selected for interview by the Full Court comprising all judges. 

– The Full Court may review its decision to designate a person as a Senior Advocate and recall the conferment of designation if the Advocate is found guilty of conduct which according to the Full Court disentitles him to designation.

Rupee-dirham deal is bilateral: envoy

Source: The post is based on the article “Rupee-dirham deal is bilateral: envoy”  published in The Hindu on 18th July 2023

What is the News?

The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to India has said that the India-UAE rupee-dirham deal signed is bilateral, and does not carry any agenda to “de-dollarize” the global economy.

What is the India-UAE rupee-dirham deal?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Central Bank of the UAE has agreed to establish a framework for enabling the use of the two countries’ local currencies for cross-border transactions. 

As per the memorandum of understanding between the two central banks, all current account payments, including those involving the two countries’ exporters and importers, and certain “permitted” capital account transactions could be settled using either the rupee or the dirham. 

To facilitate settlement, the two banks are set to put in place a Local Currency Settlement System and at a later date interlink their payments messaging systems.

What are the benefits of India-UAE rupee-dirham deal?

The immediate benefits of this settlement mechanism would be the development of a rupee-dirham foreign exchange market that would help in pricing the two currencies independent of their exchange rates with other currencies such as the dollar and the euro. 

Indian and UAE businesses also would not need to factor in exchange rate risks when quoting to supply goods or services to buyers in the other country thus improving the ease of doing business and boosting trade.

What about the Air Service Agreement between India and UAE?

The discussions on revision of the Air Service Agreement (ASA) signed in 2014 between India and UAE has reached a deadlock.

UAE wants more flights to carry passengers from India. But India is reluctant to increase the number of seats between UAE cities including Dubai and some 15 Indian cities as it could take away business from Indian airlines.

As a result, data from travel portals show an increase in airfares of 45-50% to Dubai from New Delhi, Bengaluru and Kochi as compared with pre-COVID fares.

Climate change aiding spread of deadly virus in Europe: What is CCHF

Source: The post is based on the article “Climate change aiding spread of deadly virus in Europe: What is CCHF”  published in Indian Express on 18th July 2023

What is the News?

According to the World Health Organization(WHO), Climate Change is helping in the spread of deadly viruses like Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF).

What is Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)?

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever(CCHF) is a viral haemorrhagic fever usually transmitted by ticks. 

Hosts: The virus is present in the tick family of insects. Animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and hares serve as amplifying hosts for the virus. 

Transmission: Transmission to humans occurs through contact with infected ticks or animal blood. CCHF can also be transmitted from one infected human to another by contact with infectious blood or body fluids such as sweat and saliva. 

First detected in: The disease was first described in the Crimean Peninsula in 1944 and given the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever. 

– In 1969 it was recognized that the pathogen causing Crimean haemorrhagic fever was the same as that responsible for an illness identified in 1956 in the Congo Basin. 

– The linkage of the two place names resulted in the current name for the disease and the virus.

Endemic countries: CCHF is endemic in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia. 

Fatality rate: CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services as the virus can lead to epidemics. It also has a high case fatality ratio (10–40%).

– The first fatality from the disease in Europe was in Spain. In India, one person succumbed to CCHF last month in Gujarat.

Treatment: There is no vaccine for the virus in either humans or animals, and treatment generally consists of managing symptoms.

How is Climate Change amplifying the spread of viruses like CCHF?

As temperature patterns are disrupted , pathogens are thriving in geographies that traditionally had a climate hostile to them.

For instance, Europe is generally known for colder climate. But now it is reeling under heatwave and wildfires.

This warmer temperature expands the habitat of ticks and other insects and gives them more time to reproduce. This is leading to spread of viruses like Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF).

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

7 PM Editorial of the day: WTO reforms and India: Explained, pointwise