9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – March 2nd, 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• The Ukraine war, India and a stand of non-alignment
• A world Fragmented by divergences in data regulation
• Where Are Our Qiaos & Wangs?
• Escaping the global sanctions net

GS Paper 3

• Gaining heft – On e-NAM’s trade effectiveness
• RBI ought to take a balanced view on cryptocurrency
• Winds of Change in Urban India that demand close investigation
• Planning for resilience in a warming world
• IPCC report makes a case for building people’s resilience to climate crisis. It will require multi-pronged efforts at all levels

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Climate change to pull down crop yield, fish output, labour capacity: IPCC
• FLCTD Project: BEE observes its 20th foundation day with the National Innovation Conclave on Low Carbon Technologies
• India faces uncertainty over defence supplies from Russia and Ukraine
• Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurates the ‘Sagar Parikrama’
• State of India’s Environment Report: Deaths linked to PM2.5 pollution in India increased by 2.5 times in 2 decades: Report \
• Explained: How dependent is India on Russia’s weapons
• Five things to know about the 5G rollout
• Andhra Pradesh CM ​​Formally Dedicates INS Visakhapatnam to the City of Destiny
• The Hermetic Wiper malware that targeted Ukraine

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

The Ukraine war, India and a stand of non-alignment

News: World is criticizing Russia over its actions on Ukraine.

What are the concerns of Russia?

It is clear that NATO expansion to Russian borders is a legitimate security threat for Russia. President of Ukraine should have been more careful in devising a formula to lean towards the west and ease Russian concerns at the same time.

But none of these justifies Russian invasion of Ukraine. It has been condemned by west and United Nations.

How it is difficult for India to choose a particular side?

India US relationships are continuously growing especially in the defense sector. Both are also the members of the Quad grouping which will help India to contain China in the future if needed

Russia is India’s principal source of military hardware and is willing to share the technology also. Russia has also helped India in the United Nations on many occasions. For example, Russia stalled action in the UN for several days at the time of the 1971 Bangladesh war to enable India to ‘finish the job’. India may also need Russian support in the future if Pakistan brings up the Kashmir issue in the world organization.

India’s Policy in Russia-Ukraine Issue

At present, the Indian government policy of maintaining a kind of neutral position is the continuation of  Nehruvian policy of non-alignment. 

Jawaharlal Nehru even called it a selfish policy because it is motivated by the principle of national interest.

A world Fragmented by divergences in data regulation

News

In the current times, Data is the new oil, and across the globe, various countries have been using very different approaches to manage this resource. Justice Srikrishna Committee Report of 2018 also mentions this divergence between the US, European and Chinese approaches, which is only increasing with passing time.

What are the different approaches used across the world for data management?

Status of Data-

US has always had a laissez-faire approach to data regulation. It tends to look at personal data as property and believes that anyone who has a legitimate claim over data also has the right to alienate it.

In China, although the tech companies are regulated in the same laissez-faire manner but here data is also perceived as an asset that the state can use to secure the country’s financial and economic stability.

Europe has taken a rights-based approach, conferring on all natural persons a set of statutory rights, which ensure that the consent they provide doesn’t extinguish their rights over personal data. The EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) sets out these rights along with the legal mechanisms that can be deployed to enforce them.

Cross Border flows of data–

US supports the unrestricted flow of data across borders; the Trans-Pacific Partnership is an example of this which requires participating parties to commit to promote cross-border data transfers.

China has adopted perhaps the hardest line of all. Two decades ago, it built the ‘Great Firewall of China’, a massive surveillance and censoring system that it uses to control the movement of data packets across its borders.

Europe prioritizes data flows to countries whose legal systems meet their high standard of adequacy—requiring all other countries to go through a set of additional hoops if data is to be transferred to them.

What are the implications of this divergence?

As our world becomes increasingly dependent on data, this divergence will have costs and complications.

As the US companies have global reach, they exert an influence well beyond the sovereign territory of the US.

China with its Great Firewall has aggressively enforced its sovereignty over data within its land borders. It is also increasingly through initiatives like the Digital Silk Road has begun to export this uniquely Chinese approach to any other country looking to replicate its state-centric approach.

Europe has chosen to strictly enforce its fair business conduct regulations on all international tech companies that operate within its sovereign territory—requiring them to comply or pay hefty fines.

What is the best alternative for India?

The Srikrishna Committee analysed the three dominant approaches to data governance with a view to proposing a fourth path for Indian data governance. It proposed a framework that rather than focusing solely on the protection of personal data also allows this data to be used for empowerment.

What is the way forward?

There is an urgent need to find common ground between these different approaches so that we can come up with a common framework for governance that everyone agrees upon. This then can be integrated into our technical and regulatory systems.

India also needs to align its data governance framework with the common principles shared by other governance models around the world.

Where Are Our Qiaos & Wangs?

News:  Former Indian foreign secretary and China expert Vijay Gokhale,  in his recent book on Tiananmen, made the observation on military power and intellectual power. He mentioned it is the intellectual power that Beijing is most afraid of as a challenge.

In this regard, the author of the article advocates scaling up strategic thinking capabilities in India among the senior strategic and military leadership.

Why does India need to develop strategic thinking capabilities?

Afghanistan and Ukraine have presented significant challenges for India’s strategic leaders.

Now, India’s strategic planners need to analyze the impacts of Russia’s steps in Ukraine on China’s strategies

How did China develop its strategic capabilities?

Two PLA colonels, Qiao Liang and Wang Xiangsui, published a book Unrestricted Warfare: China’s Master Plan to Destroy America in the open domain in 1999. It formed the basis of China’s evolving Grey Zone and Hybrid Warfare tactics.

It led to the development of an intellectual community within the Autocratic CCP. They absorb ideas from around the world and adapt them to suit Chinese characteristics and requirements. Further, China’s Academy of Military Sciences cooperates with civilian think tanks such as the Academy of Social Sciences to create the template of Comprehensive National Power.

Examples of using strategic capabilities in India

One such example from India was the work of General Sundarji and K Subrahmanyam, who wrote about the likely path of nuclear deterrence. It was adopted well before India’s nuclear arsenal was operationalized. That was a fine demonstration of India’s strategic community working in unison towards a ‘big’ strategic outcome.

Which strategy should India adopt?

India should give greater intellectual depth to our strategic and military thinking. It should devote more time thinking about the problems of the future, rather than expending energy running present agendas. India should embrace the knowledge and attempt to continuously reinvent itself with confidence, curiosity, and humility by challenging subordinates to come up with better ideas.

Escaping the global sanctions net

News: Western countries have put several types of economic sanctions on Russia. However, the effectiveness of these sanctions is debatable.

The way of expressing global dominance and hegemony is changing. Now, it is expressed through financial sanctions, instead of troop presence. Most recently the method has been adopted against Russia.

First, financial manipulations from afar in the form of sanctions. In Afghanistan, financial sanctions gave the US government the ability to exercise control over a government or its activities or both. Furthermore, it also controls those countries or corporations trading with or investing in Afghanistan.

Second way of exerting control from afar is confiscation of foreign exchange reserves in American banks. For example, the US froze Afghanistan’s foreign exchange reserves of $7 billion deposited in the New York Federal Bank, after its withdrawal.

What were the implications of sanctions on Afghanistan?

Role of private sector: These sanctions are designed by government and implemented by both profit-making and non-profit private enterprises, domestic and international NGOs (including the United Nations).

China’s chance to build dominance: This move gave China with the chance to unite its investments in Afghanistan and Pakistan, isolating India. Furthermore, it gave economic lever of Afghanistan in the hand of China in the form of rich mineral resources.

What are the implications of sanctions on Russia?

Unlike Afghanistan, Russian economy is more isolated, protected and less reliant on international funding. So far, the possible impact of sanctions on Russia is estimated at a 1 per cent loss in GDP.

Banning Russia from the SWIFT system of international payments is a problem for the global financial system. The impact of any disruption in Russian exports of oil, gas, palladium, wheat, and fertilizer will have repercussions for the global economy, recovering from covid shock.

Lastly, the Ukraine incident shows a cooperation between Russia and China in the form of division of labour. While China is focusing on the economy, the Russia is attending the political and the military aspects of keeping the US out of Eurasia.

GS Paper 3

Gaining heft – On e-NAM’s trade effectiveness

News: There is an increase in the e-NAM’s trade volumes after the repealing of the three agricultural laws.

What is electronic National Agricultural Market (e-NAM)?

It is a pan-Indian digital market, launched in 2016. About 1,000 markets in over 20 states and Union Territories have been linked to the e-NAM portal and the network is further expanding.

What is the present status of e- NAM?

Although trade in e-NAM is increasing, online trading is taking place only in 570-odd markets of the 1,000 linked to the e-NAM. Many big agricultural markets, like Delhi’s Azadpur mandi, one of the largest in Asia, are yet to be connected to it. Besides, just three states Rajasthan, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh account for over 70% of the transactions.

Also, the bulk of the trading consists of the deals within the same mandis (intra-mandi trade) or between the mandis of the same district. Inter-mandi and, inter-state trade are minimal, though that is what the e-NAM is chiefly meant for.

How the e-NAM can be further promoted?

There is a need for a single trading license that will be valid throughout the state and across the states as well. Also, state APMC Acts should be amended to make specific provisions for inter-state trading in farm commodities. Issues concerning the quality, grading, packaging, storage, and transportation of the commodities should be resolved.

To overcome the legal hurdles in inter-state marketing of farm produce, the Ashok Dalwai committee proposed to shift agricultural marketing from the State List to the Concurrent List. Along with the expansion, there is a need to consolidate the existing network of the e-NAM.

RBI ought to take a balanced view on cryptocurrency

News: While it is right to be concerned about cryptocurrency, but RBI’s move to ban crypto and refer it to the Ponzi scheme lacks balance.

How crypto is beneficial?

Crypto could save in remittances transfer as India received 87 bn dollars and remittance charge alone cost 30,000 crores. Crypto with near-zero fees could be useful here. Cryptocurrencies are also powering new innovations like Maharashtra State Board of Skill Certification verification based on Ethereum and NFT (Non-Fungible Token) by media houses.

How the RBI’s move on banning cryptocurrency is not justified?

RBI does not clarify how cryptocurrency is going to actually “wreck” the economy. There was also no reasoning on how a crypto ban in India would solve any of the problems cited that regulation cannot solve.

Also, Citizens should have the right to participate in a new technology wave and be part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Winds of Change in Urban India that demand close investigation

News

A  recent analysis has shown that wind speed in major Indian cities has been slowing down consistently and significantly over several decades. The average wind speed has fallen by 47% in Hyderabad, 47% in Bengaluru, 46% in Kolkata

What are the causes of this decrease?

While the exact explanation of this phenomenon is not clear, some scientists say it is happening (along with other atmospheric changes) as a result of an increase in surface roughness, attributed to land-use changes. This they claim can be due to urbanization, or even forest growth.

Most global studies indicate that urbanization is the major factor that can explain weakening winds in urban regions.

Why is urbanization a major reason?

Urban areas are characterized by urban ‘heat islands’, altered rainfall patterns, increased fog, haze and reduced evaporative cooling. This explains why urbanization may well be the main driver of falling wind speeds.

This is also supported by the fact that the rate of wind speed fall in some of the less-rapidly urbanizing districts is relatively slow.

Although it may yet turn out not be the main factor behind reduced wind speeds, urbanization is certainly a compounding factor.

What are the implications of Slowing wind speed?

Slow winds cannot carry moisture for long which will result in altered rainfall patterns.

Agriculture depends crucially on transpiration (a plant’s exhalation of water vapour), which in turn needs evaporation which is dependent on wind speed.

Wind-dispersed plant species also depend on wind speeds for survival. They also affect natural disasters and ocean dynamics.

This also means that air pollution in cities will take longer to get dispersed, exacerbating public-health problems.

Falling wind speed also has huge implications for the wind-energy sector and thus for the clean energy sector. Typically, a 5% fall in wind speed can lead to an almost 17% fall in wind energy in an average turbine.

What has been the global trend?

Scientists have found that wind speeds have been declining globally since the 1960s which they refer to as “global terrestrial stilling“. Although this drop may not seem like much but over long periods of time, it can have significant consequences.

What is the way forward?

Natural phenomena need to be scientifically investigated for their implications to broader socio-economic and cultural outcomes. There is a need for an informed understanding of these winds of change so that we can formulate adaptation strategies.

Planning for resilience in a warming world

News: 2^nd part of 6^th IPCC report highlights the vulnerability of Indian cities to Climate Change.

With Global temp. already 1.1-1.3° Celsius above pre-industrial levels, some impacts of climate Change are bound to happen.

India has almost all type of climate change hotspots. The three major climate change hotspots are the semi-arid and arid regions, the Himalayan ecosystem and coastal zones.

• About half of India’s landmass is arid and semi-arid.
• India has 7,500 km of coastline, with population of 33 crore people living within 150 km from the coast
• The Himalayan region is home to five crore people covering 13 states and union territories.

The report further highlights that most of the national targets determined at the Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow are not sufficient to have an impact in the short term. For example – India will achieve net zero emissions latest by 2070 and would also ensure 50% of its energy will be from renewable energy sources by 2030. None of these targets can stop the breach of the 1.5°C level.

What are the implications of Urbanization as per IPCC report?

In the next 15 years, almost 40% of Indians will be living in urban areas. Urbanization processes have generated vulnerability and exposure combined with climate change hazards.

1. Extreme heat and humidity in urban areas will create life-threatening climatic conditions.
2. The primary drivers of increasing heat exposure in already-warm cities in India will be global warming and population growth.
3. The urban heat island effect will be amplified by heatwaves. Older adults, people with comorbidities, will be most vulnerable.
4. Increasing temperature will result in heat-induced labour productivity loss, leading to economic losses.
5. Climate Change will result in Sea level rise and increase in tropical cyclone storm surge and rainfall variability like increasing high-intensity short duration (sub-daily) rainfall. It will lead to larger probabilities of cities getting flooded.
6. In the Himalayan region, due to unplanned urbanisation, changes in land use, and land cover, small towns with populations under a lakh are turning into major urban centres.
7. One of the contributing factors of glacial decline is the deposition of black carbon. Black carbon can be sourced back to stubble burning, brick kilns, polluting industries.
8. Water scarcity in the hilly region has become a new phenomenon of change in hydrological regimes of the region.
9. The ‘wet bulb’ temperature trend is an index of the impact of heat and humidity combined — and its effect on health. Several cities of India in the Himalayan belt are predicted to reach wet-bulb temperatures of 35°C. It will have consequences such as a rise in heat-wave linked deaths or reduced productivity.

How Local bodies in India are increasing adaptability?

Firstly, In Bengaluru, Indian communities have traditionally managed a network of water tanks of immense ecological importance. It made the urban areas water-secure. However, the practice is not continued due to increasing urban areas. However, the restoration of the blue network offers a more sustainable and socially just alternative for managing water resources.

Secondly, Passive cooling technology, is a part of ancient Indian building designs. It is a widely-used strategy to create naturally ventilated buildings. This tech can be used as a counter to urban heat island for residential and commercial buildings.

Third, Local governments in Surat, Indore, and Bhubaneswar linked transformation to local development needs. The report proves that the economic benefits of adaptation are a strategy for local institutions to support adaptation action

Fourth, to manage flooding in Indian cities adaptation measures should include overhauling stormwater management, green infrastructure, and sustainable urban drainage systems.

However, global response needs quantum leaps. Radical ideas like ‘solar geo-engineering’ might gain appeal soon.

IPCC report makes a case for building people’s resilience to climate crisis. It will require multi-pronged efforts at all levels

This post is developed based on the article “IPCC report makes a case for building people’s resilience to climate crisis” Published in The Hindu on 2^nd March 2022.

News: IPCC’s began taking stock of the climate crisis about 30 years ago. However, its latest report is the gravest of all the warnings issued by the global body of experts.

The report predicts that the world will face multiple hazards even if the global temperature rise is contained to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The IPCC does not prescribe policy decisions. Thus, the experts underline building people’s resilience, especially that of the most vulnerable.

How would Climate Change impact India?

Global warming will affect India’s coasts, plains, forests, rivers, groundwater and mountain systems.

More than 40 per cent of the India’s population will face water scarcity by 2050. Whereas the country’s coastal areas, including cities such as Mumbai, will be affected by sea-level rises.

What should India do?

Climate-sensitive policymaking at the national and local levels is required.

India should rectify past mistakes such as ignoring hydrology while planning towns and cities, neglecting flood alert systems, and encouraging water-guzzling crops.

Policymakers will have to find ways to save the country’s food security from adverse effects.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Climate change to pull down crop yield, fish output, labour capacity: IPCC

Source: This post is based on the article “Climate change to pull down crop yield, fish output, labour capacity: IPCC” published in Business Standard on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) has released the second part of the Sixth Assessment Report.

The report has presented a grim picture on the adverse impact of climate change across India in general. It has also been particularly concerned when it comes to the impact on agriculture and farming.

What is the impact of climate change on agriculture, farming and river systems in India?

Impact on Agriculture: 1) Rice, wheat, pulses, coarse and cereal yields may fall by almost 9% by 2050, 2) Maize output may drop by 17% in South India if emissions remain high and 3) Agriculture labour capacity to fall by 17% if global warming continues.

These disruptions to crop production are expected to cause price spikes in India, threatening food affordability, food security and economic growth.

Impact on Fish Species: If temperatures rise, the main commercial fish species in India such as hilsa and Bombay duck will fall.

– Climate change will also bring new water quality challenges in freshwater systems, including increased dissolved organic carbon and toxic metal loads. This will have a direct effect on freshwater and inland fishing in India.

Impact on River Systems: Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins which provide water to the most densely populated areas of South Asia will see an increase in river ‘runoff’ by 2050 and 2100.

Note: ‘River run-off’ refers to water that comes into a river water system from sources such as rainfall, melting snow and groundwater.

FLCTD Project: BEE observes its 20th foundation day with the National Innovation Conclave on Low Carbon Technologies

Source: This post is based on the article “BEE observes its 20th foundation day with the National Innovation Conclave on Low Carbon Technologies” published in PIB on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE) commemorated its 20th Foundation Day by organising the National Innovation Conclave on Low Carbon Technologies.

The event showcased many low carbon technology innovations developed and validated with the support of the Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment(FLCTD) Project.

What is the Facility for Low Carbon Technology Deployment(FLCTD) Project?

Launched in: 2016

Objective: To identify innovative energy efficiency and low carbon technology solutions that address the existing technology gaps in the Indian industrial and commercial sectors.

Implemented by: United Nations Industrial Development Organisation(UNIDO) in collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency(BEE).

Funded by: Global Environment Facility(GEF)

Under the Project, annual innovation challenges are conducted in the following six areas: Waste Heat Recovery, Space Conditioning, Pumps, Pumping Systems and Motors, Industrial IoT, Industrial Resource Efficiency and Electrical Energy Storage.

The winners of the challenge receive financial assistance of up to US$50,000 to validate their innovation and demonstrate its efficacy (performance) in actual field conditions – a necessary step before commercialization.

India faces uncertainty over defence supplies from Russia and Ukraine

Source: This post is based on the article “India faces uncertainty over defence supplies from Russia and Ukraine” published in The Hindu on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

Amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India faces uncertainty over its delivery of weapons from both Russia and Ukraine.

India-Russia Defence Cooperation

The Defence trade between India and Russia has crossed $15bn since 2018. Currently, over 60% of Indian military inventory is of Russian origin.

For instance, India has signed S-400 air defence systems and AK-203 assault rifles defence deals with Russia.

India is also looking to receive the third Akula class nuclear attack submarine(SSN) sometime in 2025.

However, in the current situation, India faces the risk of being sanctioned by the US for the acquisition of the S-400 missile system from Russia under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act{CAATSA}.

India-Ukraine Defence Cooperation

India had signed a separate deal with Ukraine for eight Zorya-Mashproekt gas turbine engines for the frigates. 

Ukraine is also upgrading over 100 An-32 transport aircraft of the IAF under a deal finalised in 2009. 

In 2021, Ukraine has signed four agreements worth $70 mn which includes the sale of new weapons as well as maintenance and the upgrade of the existing ones in service with the Indian military.

Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurates the ‘Sagar Parikrama’

Source: This post is based on the article “Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying inaugurates the ‘Sagar Parikrama’” published in PIB on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

The Union Minister for Fisheries will inaugurate the ‘Sagar Parikrama’.

What is Sagar Parikrama?

Organized by: Ministry of Fisheries, National Fisheries Development Board along with Government of Gujarat, Indian Coast Guard, Fishery Survey of India and Gujarat Maritime Board.

Purpose: It is a navigation journey to be conducted in all coastal states/UTs through a pre-decided sea route to demonstrate solidarity with all fisherfolk, fish farmers and concerned stakeholders.

The journey shall focus on the sustainable balance between the utilization of marine fisheries resources for food security of the nation and livelihoods of coastal fisher communities and protection of marine ecosystems.

Part of: This initiative has been launched as a part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava’ (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava is one of the significant initiatives of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements).

Note: Oceans are vital to the economies, security and livelihoods of Indian coastal states. India has a coastline of 8118 km covering 9 maritime States/4 UTs and providing livelihood support to millions of coastal fisherfolk. 

State of India’s Environment Report: Deaths linked to PM2.5 pollution in India increased by 2.5 times in 2 decades: Report \

Source: This post is based on the article “Deaths linked to PM2.5 pollution in India increased by 2.5 times in 2 decades: Report” published in Economic Times on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

According to the Centre for Science and Environment(CSE) “State of India’s Environment Report”, deaths attributable to PM2.5 pollution in India have increased by 2.5 times over the last two decades.

What is the State of India’s Environment Report?

It is an annual publication by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) along with Down To Earth. It covers aspects such as forests, wildlife, agriculture, rural development, water and sanitation, pollution, climate change among others.

What does the report say on Air Pollution in India?

Poor air quality was the fourth leading risk factor for early death worldwide in 2019, surpassed only by high blood pressure, tobacco use and poor diet.

Deaths due to Air Pollution: Around 6.67 million people died due to air pollution in the world. Of these, 1.67 million deaths occurred in India. China saw 1.85 million deaths due to air pollution.

Infant Deaths due to Air Pollution: Around 4,76,000 infants died globally in their first month of life from health effects associated with air pollution exposure in 2019. Of these, 1,16,000 deaths occurred in India.

Deaths due to PM 2.5: Deaths attributable to ambient PM2.5 in India have increased by 2.5 times — from 2.7 lakh in 1990 to 9.8 lakh in 2019. 

Note: PM2.5 refers to fine particles which penetrate deep into the body and fuel inflammation in the lungs and respiratory tract, leading to the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory problems including a weak immune system).

Deaths due to ozone in India have increased by 2.9 times — from 43,000 in 1990 to 1.68 lakh in 2019.

However, deaths due to household air pollution in the country have decreased by over 40% — from 10 lakh in 1990 to 6 lakh in 2019.

Explained: How dependent is India on Russia’s weapons

Source: This post is based on the article “Explained: How dependent is India on Russia’s weapons” published in Indian Express on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

In the Russia-Ukraine crisis, India has been trying to walk a fine line, negotiating its relationships with the United States and other Western nations on one side and the historically deep and strategic ties with Russia on the other.

India-Russia Defence Ties

India was almost solely dependent on the British and other Western nations for its arms imports immediately after Independence. 

But this dependence decreased and by the 1970s India was importing several weapons systems from the USSR, making it the country’s largest defence importer for decades.

How much is India dependent on Russia’s weapons?

Russia is the second-largest arms exporter in the world, following only the United States. For Russia, India is the largest importer and for India, Russia is the largest exporter when it comes to arms transfer. Between 2000 and 2020, Russia accounted for 66.5% of India’s arms imports.

What kind of weapons has Russia given to India?

The first submarine “INS Kalvari” was of the Soviet era. Currently, out of the total 16 conventional diesel-electric submarines with the Indian Navy, eight are of Soviet origins.

The only aircraft carrier in service with India, INS Vikramaditya is a Soviet-made Kiev-class vessel that came into service for the Indian Navy in 2013. 

The BrahMos missile, which India will begin exporting soon, has been developed jointly with Russia.

The Indian Army’s main battle tank force is composed predominantly of Russian.

Four of the Navy’s 10 guided-missile destroyers are Russian Kashin class, and 6 of its 17 frigates are Russian Talwar class.

The Indian Air Force’s fighter ground attack (FGA) fleet is 71% Russian-origin.

Is India trying to expand its defence base?

According to a SIPRI report, arms imports by India have decreased by 33% between 2011–15 and 2016–20.

Moreover, India has also broad-based its arms import, increasingly turning to the US, France and Israel for arms imports over the last 15 years. But still, over 60% of the weapons systems used by Indian armed forces are of Russian origin.

Five things to know about the 5G rollout

Source: This post is based on the article “Five things to know about the 5G rollout” published in Livemint on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

The ongoing Mobile World Congress in Barcelona has underlined the importance of 5G, the technology mobile networks will ride on to provide services to millions of people. 

What is 5G?

The term 5G refers to the fifth generation of cellular data technology.

5G technology is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra-low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience to more users. 

Which countries have launched 5G connections?

Nearly 200 countries have deployed 5G, with nations such as China, Japan, South Korea and the US taking the lead. 

According to GSMA, the number of 5G connections globally is set to reach 1 billion in 2022. From about 6% of total connections in 2021, 5G will account for around 25% of total mobile connections in the world by the end of 2025.

How far is India behind in the 5G rollout?

India is set to conduct its first 5G spectrum auctions in the first half of 2022. Indian carriers such as  Reliance Jio,  Airtel and Vodafone Idea have conducted 5G trials  with various vendors.

However, Spectrum pricing as high as ₹50,000 crore for pan-India 5G airwaves for a single operator has kept carriers away from bidding for the spectrum in previous auctions. 

What is the Economic Impact of 5G Rollout? 

5G is expected  to benefit mostly all sectors, especially the services and manufacturing sectors. Mobile operators are also expected to invest more than $600 billion worldwide between 2022 and 2025 in capital expenditure, of which 85% will be in 5G networks. Hence, this will boost job creation.

Andhra Pradesh CM ​​Formally Dedicates INS Visakhapatnam to the City of Destiny

Source: This post is based on the article “Andhra Pradesh CM ​​Formally Dedicates INS Visakhapatnam to the City of Destiny” published in PIB on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh has dedicated INS Visakhapatnam to the nation in a formal ceremony held at Naval Dockyard.

What is INS Visakhapatnam?

INS Visakhapatnam is the name of the first indigenously designed and constructed stealth guided-missile destroyer ship under Project 15B.

The ship has been named after the City of Destiny – Visakhapatnam.

The crew of the ship abides by her motto ‘Yasho Labhasva’ – a Sanskrit phrase that translates to ‘Attain Glory’.

Key Features of the ship

It is the most technologically advanced guided destroyer in the world with a displacement of 7,400 tonnes. 

It is equipped with numerous state-of-the-art weapons and has a significant indigenous content of approximately 75%. It also has anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

The ship is propelled by a powerful combined gas and gas propulsion, which enables her speed of over 30 knots.

It is also equipped to be deployed to fight in Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) warfare conditions.

The Hermetic Wiper malware that targeted Ukraine

Source: This post is based on the article “The Hermetic Wiper malware that targeted Ukraine” published in The Hindu on 2nd March 2022.

What is the News?

Ukraine has found that hundreds of its computers have been attacked by a data-wiper malware named Hermetic Wiper.

Moreover, Ukraine’s largest commercial bank was also hit by a DDoS or distributed denial-of-service attack.

What is a Hermetic Wiper?

Hermetic Wiper is a data-wiper malware that was detected on hundreds of computers in Ukraine. 

This malware when downloaded can erase all the data on a device it targets in a manner that renders the data irretrievable. 

The malware is also capable of attacking data recovery tools on a system and the rebooting system of a hard drive, making it difficult for the device to reboot into its operating system, essentially making it inoperable. 

What is a DDoS or distributed denial-of-service attack?

A DDoS attack essentially floods a website with countless frivolous requests for information, eventually leading it to paralyze or crash. It uses bots to send these queries that bombard the site, leaving it inaccessible to legitimate users. 

Such attacks, in a conflict situation, can damage critical digital infrastructure, disable government communication and the information ecosystem in a country.