9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – May 2nd, 2023

Mains Oriented Articles

GS PAPER - 2

Ukraine crisis highlights India’s need to reduce dependence on military imports

Source- The post is based on the article “Ukraine crisis highlights India’s need to reduce dependence on military imports” published in “The Indian Express” on 1st May 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- International relations

Relevance– Global geopolitics and its impact on India

News– The article explains the dilemma posed by Ukraine war for India foreign policy makers.

What is the Russian stand regarding the Ukraine war?

As per Putin, the Ukrainian nation does not exist, and it is an inalienable part of Russia’s history, culture and spiritual space.” Such claims are made by hegemonic states to hide their intentions for dominance.

Putin has accused the US and Europe of bad faith. Gorbachev was given assurance that NATO would advance “not an inch eastward”. This undertaking was allegedly violated when NATO included 10 former Warsaw Pact members.

How has conflict posed a dilemma for New Delhi?

It remains engaged with Russia and China in the BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), while also partnering with the US in the Quad and Malabar groupings. India simultaneously holds presidencies of the G20 and SCO. India will need a “tightrope walk” while maintaining “strategic autonomy”.

The increasing closeness of Moscow with Beijing gives Beijing great leverage. It impacts Russia’s capacity to pursue independent relations with other states, especially India.

There is a rapid decline in Russia’s capability as a defence supplier. It should be a cause of worry for India.

The Quad and Malabar groupings show the convergence of US and Indian strategic interests. But their overall impact has been underwhelming. China sees this grouping as a potential impediment to its hegemonic grand plan. The Quad members except the US have also shown nervousness in their responses to China. Quad meetings have empahasised that the grouping has no security implications and is not an “Asian NATO”.

What are prospects of Indo-US cooperation in assisting India in improving the security scenario of India?

In September 2021, Australia, the UK and US announced the formation of a trilateral security pact, AUKUS. Under it, the US and Britain will share many advanced technologies with Australia and would also assist it in acquiring a nuclear attack submarine force.

AUKUS shows that there is complete absence of any similar offer of training, military technology or hardware, by the US to India. This is despite the strategic partnership and  Indo-US civil nuclear deal and a host of defence-related agreements.

An Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET) was announced in May 2022 by Joe Biden. It remains to be seen if iCET results in significant sales or transfer of technology to India or ends up like other Indo-US agreements.

What are the options for India to increase independence in defence supplies?

Weak performance of India’s military-industrial complex has made it import-dependent for weaponry.

While “atmanirbharta” is a good. But technology has long gestation periods. India should draw useful lessons from China.

China has employed reverse engineering, coercion, and even blatant theft to acquire military technology from the USSR and the West.

The importance of constitutional punctuality

Source- The post is based on the article “The importance of constitutional punctuality” published in “The Hindu” on 1st May 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Issues related to federalism

Relevance– Office of governor

News– Recently, the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed a resolution seeking to provide for a time frame for Governors to act on Bills passed by the State Legislature.

Why does the governor withholding the bill passed by assembly is against the spirit of the constitution?

When the Constitution was adopted, some of the sovereign functions were retained for the sake of continuity in governance. There was no time limit fixed for various authorities to discharge duties.

Drafters of the Constitution assumed that nominated governors will discharge sovereign duties beyond the confines of political partisanship.

Article 200 of the Constitution limits the options before the Governor to give assent to the Bill sent by the legislature, or withhold assent, or reserve a Bill for the consideration of the President. Governors have wrongly understood this function as some discretionary responsibility.

However, a composite reading of the debates in the Constituent Assembly provides a different interpretation.

The original draft Article 175 moved for discussion provided discretion to the Governor to return the Bill.

While moving the amendment to this Article, B.R. Ambedkar said that there can be no room for a Governor acting on discretion” and recommended removing the discretion.

A simple reading of the Article is sufficient to show that the meaning of the phrase “withholds assent therefrom” has been misinterpreted to mean holding back the Bill.

What are practices followed in other countries regarding the veto of the bill?

In the United Kingdom, there has been no royal veto since 1708. In the United States, there is a time limit of 10 days for the President to give assent or veto a bill. If the President does not sign or vetoes the Bill within this time, it automatically becomes an Act.

What are the views of higher courts on authorities discharging their functions without any regard for a time limit?

The Supreme Court in Shamsher Singh & Anr vs State Of Punjab (1974), held that the discretion of the Governor is extremely limited. Even in rare cases, the governor shall act in a manner that is not detrimental to the interest of the state.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the Governor shall only act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

The Supreme Court, in Keisham Meghachandra Singh vs The Hon’ble Speaker Manipur (2020), asked the Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly to decide on the disqualification petitions under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution within a period of four weeks.

In the case filed by the State of Telangana against the Governor, the Supreme Court acknowledged that the words in Article 200, “as soon as possible after the presentation of the Bill”, are important. Governors should necessarily bear this in mind.

India’s hunger paradox: Self-sufficiency in production does not necessarily mean food security

Source- The post is based on the article “India’s hunger paradox: Self-sufficiency in production does not necessarily mean food security” published in “The Indian Express” on 2nd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS2- Poverty and hunger

Relevance– Assessment of malnutrition and hunger

News– As per fifth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) data, 18% of children between ages 6-23 months, did not eat any food whatsoever in the 24 hours preceding the survey.

What are other statistics provided by NFHS5 related to food intake by children?

The zero-food prevalence was 30 % for infants aged 6-11 months, remains worryingly high at 13% among the 12-17 months old, and persists even among 18-23 months-old children at 8%.

More than 80% had not consumed any protein-rich foods for an entire day.

Close to 40% did not eat any grains for an entire day, and six out of 10 children do not consume milk or dairy of any form every day.

What are the dietary requirements of children?

According to the World Health Organisation, at six months of age, 33% of the daily calorie intake is expected to come from food. This proportion increases to 61% at 12 months of age.

The recommended calorie percentages mentioned here are the minimum amount that should come from food. It is presumed that the child obtains the remaining calories through breastfeeding.

Consequently, the percentage of food-sourced calories only increases further when a child cannot receive breast milk when needed.

What are issues with NFHS surveys to assess the nutritional deprivation among the Indian population?

The assessment of the extent of nutritional deprivation among young children in India has relied on measures such as stunting, wasting, compared to a reference population.

These measures suggest overall deficiencies in the child’s environment, without any guidance on the specific nature of the deficiencies.

Due to several factors that cause stunting or wasting among children, it is challenging for any single ministry, or department of the Government to take responsibility for designing, implementing and monitoring policies to reduce undernutrition among children.

The well-documented intergenerational linkages between child stunting and parental height, makes it a problematic policy metric for evaluating the effectiveness of current programmes and interventions.

How can NFHS survey be improved to assess nutrition related metrics?

There is a need to improve the NFHS surveys. The 24-hour recall questions on consumption of various food items are currently asked only of the most recently born children under the age of two. It should be systematically extended to children under five years.

Questions for adults should also be based on a 24-hour recall following similar food items as the children’s questions.

To better understand food security for all populations in India, assessments using household-level food insecurity modules developed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation can be adapted.

What is the way forward to tackle the issues of hunger and malnutrition in India?

The rising burden of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases in India is strongly linked to diet and nutrition. A national effort to establish routine dietary and nutritional assessments for the entire population is the need of the hour.

Measuring the availability, accessibility and affordability of nutritious food constitutes the foundation for any evidence-based policy to end hunger and improve nutritional security among Indians.

India must achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 of “zero hunger”, by 2030. The Mission Poshan 2.0  programme is dedicated to it. However, to effectively monitor and assess the performance of Poshan 2.0, there is an immediate need to develop appropriate food-based metrics.

India should consider a strategic initiative led by the Prime Minister’s Office aimed at eliminating food insecurity in India. It should  ensure affordable access to sufficient quantity and quality of nutritionally diverse food, with a special and immediate focus on India’s youngest children.

GS PAPER - 3

Roadmap to energy justice

Source: The post is based on the article “Roadmap to energy justice” published in The Indian Express on 2^nd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Infrastructure – Energy

Relevance: measures taken by India to cater its rising energy demand.

News: India’s energy demand is growing. As per the BP energy outlook and IEA estimates, India will account for approximately 25 percent of global energy demand growth between 2020-2040.

The article discusses India’s position on various energy requirements and measures taken by India to check rising crude prices.

How has India been able to manage the rising prices of crude oil?

Prices of diesel in India have gone down in the last one year at a time when petrol and diesel prices went up by 35-40 per cent in the US, Canada, Spain and the UK.

India, despite being a major importer of crude oil and natural gas, has been able to control the prices of petrol and diesel.

This was made possible by – a) massive cuts in excise duty and VAT rates by several states, b) Oil PSUs absorbing huge losses to ensure that the rising prices of crude oil and natural gas in the international market were not passed on to Indian consumers, c) increasing subsidised APM gas for city gas distribution sector, d) imposing an export cess on petrol, diesel and ATF and windfall tax on domestically produced petroleum products, d) expanding its network of crude oil suppliers to Russia and the US to prevent supply disruptions, e) expanding refining capacity, f) purchasing petroleum products from certain nations has helped in keeping oil prices in check in the global value chain.

Note: India’s refining capacity is the fourth largest in the world after the US, China, and Russia.

What are other efforts being taken by India for its energy requirements?

Gas based economy: India is accelerating its efforts to move towards a gas-based economy by increasing the share of gas from the current 6.3 percent to 15 percent by 2030. The number of CNG stations in India has gone up from 938 in 2014 to 4,900 in 2023.

Since 2014, India has also increased the length of its gas pipeline network from 14,700 kms to 22,000 kms in 2023.

Biofuel: India has launched E20 (20 percent ethanol blended gasoline) which will be rolled out in 15 cities and expanded across the country in the next two years. India’s ethanol blending gasoline has grown from 1.53 percent in 2013-14 to 10.17 percent in 2023. 

India is also setting up five second generation ethanol plants, which can convert agricultural waste into biofuel.

Green Hydrogen: The National Green Hydrogen Mission has been launched to develop the entire green hydrogen ecosystem in the country and accelerate India’s efforts towards 4 MT of annual green hydrogen production. India is poised to realise its full potential to create a green hydrogen ecosystem by 2030.

Electric vehicles: India is supporting electric vehicles through a production linked incentive scheme to make advanced chemistry cells of 50 GW hours and has announced viability gap funding and customs duty exemptions for the sector.

Labour laws’ fairness challenge

Source: The post is based on the article “Labour laws’ fairness challenge” published in Business Standard on 2^nd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Employment

Relevance: concerns associated with amendments made in labour laws by some states.

News: Some states have amended their labour laws and have brought changes.

What are the changes brought by the states in their labour laws?

Karnataka has allowed 12-hour work shifts instead of eight or nine. It has increased overtime from 75 hours to 145 hours in three months, and allowed women to work in the night shift. 

These work hours are, however, capped at 48 hours per week or 4 days a week.

Similar changes in working hours have been brought by Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. 

These changes have been brought up on the request of several global contract manufacturing firms.

What are the concerns with these amendments?

The concerns with these amendments are whether these changes improve labour productivity and are efficient in creating new jobs or it leads to worse working conditions and labour exploitation.

It is argued that the flexibility to institute a 12-hour workday will improve productivity and will make India competitive with its counterparts in countries like China or Taiwan or Korea.

Some studies have also found that longer hours improve productivity because workers need to settle down in a shift before his/her productivity hits its peak.

However, a large number of studies have found that a longer number of working hours decreases productivity due to fatigue.

Newer studies have also suggested that rather than the number of working hours, other factors such as conditions at work, attribute of labour and work schedule play a much bigger role in increasing productivity.

Climate change and geographical locations may also affect the productivity of workers.

In terms of labour exploitation, it is hard to argue whether a 12-hour work shift coupled with four days will lead to labour exploitation. However, if the total number of hours per week changes, then it might lead to labour exploitation.

What can be the way ahead?

Factors such as protections for workers (wages, hiring and firing practices, insurance, etc.) and workplace conditions (safety norms, proper facilities and training etc.) are more important for workers rather than long working hours.

These factors should be taken into account because today factories tend to hire more contract workers, and often the terms and conditions for these workers are lower than those who are in the company’s roles.

Hence, these are the issues that the government should be most worried about, and they should be closely regulated and monitored.

The death of another Nehruvian idea – on closure of Vigyan Prasar

Source– The post is based on the article “The death of another Nehruvian idea” published in “The Hindu” on 2nd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS3- Science and Technology

Relevance: Government policies to promote science and technology

News- An official press release of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) cryptically announced discontinuance of Vigyan Prasar, an autonomous body under its purview.

What are some facts about Vigyan Prashar?

Vigyan Prasar started functioning in 1989. It was a Nehruvian idea of science communication and scientific awareness.

It has been a part of an unbroken chain of government institutions and policies for promoting scientific temper since 1947.

Vigyan Prasar prepared content on scientific temper and disseminated it widely via radio and TV in the 1990s.

It also commissioned filmmakers to produce documentaries about leading scientists, the history of science and similar subjects.

One notable outreach project was ECLIPSE-95. It was a year-long programme to generate awareness and create safe viewing opportunities of the total solar eclipse of 1995.

What were the steps taken by the government to improve science communication and scientific awareness?

For Jawaharlal Nehru, science and technology were essential for nation-building projects. This was reflected in the creation of national laboratories, higher education institutions, large dams, and so on.

To fight irrationality, Nehru supported a scheme to open ‘Vigyan Mandirs’. These science centres popularised scientific ideas in rural populations.

In the 1960s, science communication through All India Radio and ‘Krishi Vigyan Kendras’ played an important role in the adoption of new, high-yielding crop varieties. It powered the Green Revolution.

The DST formed an agency to promote public debate on science and technology to tackle superstitious beliefs. It was  the National Council for Science and Technology Communication (NCSTC) established in 1982.

It supported several voluntary groups and grassroots science movements. One of its major contributions was the ‘Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha’ (BJVJ) movement. It gave birth to a network of voluntary organisations. This took the shape of the All India People’s Science Network.

All these events culminated in the idea of a national institute of science and technology communication. This was Vigyan Prasar.

What were the issues faced by Vigyan Prashar in recent times?

Vigyan Prasar deviated from its original mandate. New projects were launched without adequate preparation and coordination.

The agency started ‘DD Science’ in collaboration with Doordarshan as a one-hour daily programme for science, but it started rehashing documentaries telecast earlier.

This was followed by an OTT channel called ‘IndiaScience.in. But The OTT science channel converted into a political message platform. It covered routine events such as the Prime Minister’s Republic Day speech and ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’.

Neurotoxic gas leaks and remedies – Explained, pointwise 

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Introduction

The Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 should have served as a powerful wake-up call to prioritize safety measures and prevent any Neurotoxic gas leak incident from happening again. However, India continues to face challenges related to neurotoxic gas leaks, as evidenced by recent events such as the toxic gas leak in Ludhiana, Punjab, and the 2020 styrene vapour leak in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

This highlights the need to address the pressing issue of neurotoxic gas leaks and explore effective remedies to safeguard the lives of millions of people who are at risk of being exposed to these hazardous substances.  

About the present neurotoxic gas leak in Ludhiana

Recently, there is a gas leak in Ludhiana’s Giaspura area that led to the death of 11 people and the hospitalization of four others. There has been a leak of high levels of hydrogen sulfide, a neurotoxin. It is suspected that the poisonous gas emanated from a partially open manhole in the locality, possibly due to industrial waste dumping.  

What are the previous instances of neurotoxic gas leaks in India?

Bhopal Gas Tragedy (1984): The Bhopal Gas Tragedy is considered the world’s worst industrial disaster. On the night of December 2-3, 1984, a gas leak at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) pesticide plant released 40 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas. This led to thousands of deaths and long-term health issues for survivors.  

Visakhapatnam Gas Leak (2020): In May 2020, a styrene gas leak occurred at the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The leak happened during the reopening of the plant after a COVID-19 lockdown. This caused the death of 11 people, hospitalization of hundreds, and evacuation of thousands.  

Surat Chemical Leak (2022): In February 2022, a chemical leak in Surat, Gujarat resulted in the deaths of six people. A tanker dumped toxic material, which led to the release of poisonous gases into the atmosphere. Thereby causing severe health hazards for the local population.

There are other incidents also which garnered public attention and highlighted the need for better safety standards in the chemical and industrial sectors.  

What are neurotoxic gases and how do they affect humans?

Neurotoxic gases are poisonous substances that can directly affect the nervous system. They can disrupt or even kill neurons or nerve cells, which are essential for transmitting and processing signals in the brain and other parts of the nervous system. Examples of common neurotoxic gases include methane, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide.  

Neurotoxic gases effects on Humans:

Breathing difficulties: Exposure to these gases can lead to respiratory problems, making it hard for individuals to breathe.  

Irritation: Neurotoxic gases can cause irritation in the eyes, skin, nose, and throat.  

Central nervous system damage: These gases can affect the central nervous system, causing nerve damage and impairing functions such as vision, hearing, and balance.  

Oxygen deprivation: High concentrations of neurotoxic gases can overpower the oxygen levels in the body, leading to potentially fatal consequences.  

What are the various reasons behind neurotoxic gas leaks?

Poor Waste Management: Inadequate disposal of industrial waste can lead to the release of neurotoxic gases. For example, dumping toxic chemicals into sewers can cause dangerous chemical reactions, as seen in the Ludhiana gas leak incident.  

Inadequate Maintenance of Industrial Plants: Poorly maintained plants and storage facilities can lead to gas leaks. The Bhopal gas tragedy is an example of a catastrophic gas leak caused by inadequate safety measures and maintenance at a chemical plant.  

Lack of Regulation and Monitoring: Weak enforcement of environmental regulations and insufficient monitoring of industries and government authorities can result in hazardous gasleaks. Insufficient oversight allows industries to operate without proper safety measures, thereby increasing the risk of gas leaks.  

Overcrowded Urban Areas: The coexistence of factories and residential buildings in densely populated areas increases the risk of exposure to harmful gases. Inadequate urban planning and zoning regulations contribute to this problem, as seen in the Vizag gas leak incident.  

Infrastructure Failures: Damaged or poorly maintained pipelines and storage tanks can lead to gas leaks. In some cases, ageing infrastructure and lack of proper maintenance can result in hazardous situations.  

Read more: On Bhopal Gas tragedy curative petition: Where did the constitutional sympathy for the victims vanish?

What are the government regulations for preventing neurotoxic gas leaks?

The Indian government has enacted various regulations to prevent neurotoxic gas leaks, such as  

Environmental Laws: The government enforces environmental laws like the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, to regulate the discharge of pollutants and protect the environment.  

Hazardous Waste Management: The Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, govern the safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste to minimize the risk of toxic gas leaks.  

Factory Licensing and Inspection: Factories handling hazardous chemicals must obtain licenses under the Factories Act, 1948,. Further, they are subject to regular inspections to ensure compliance with safety standards and regulations.  

Public Liability Insurance Act: The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991, requires industries dealing with hazardous substances to have insurance policies, providing compensation in case of accidents, including neurotoxic gas leaks.  

Chemical Accidents Rules: The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules, 1989, and the Chemical Accidents (Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules, 1996, outline safety requirements and emergency response plans for industries handling hazardous chemicals.  

NDMA guidelines: The NDMA has established clear guidelines on Chemical Disaster Management for various authorities in India. These guidelines promote a proactive and multi-disciplinary approach to chemical disaster preparedness and response.

NDMA has also suggested amendments to existing frameworks and is working to strengthen chemical safety by revamping the Chief Inspectorate of Factories.

Moreover, the finalized National Action Plan on Chemical Industrial Disaster Management (NAP-CIDM) will serve as a roadmap for managing chemical disasters in the country.

Read more: Bhopal’s Real Lesson – Attempts to get more out of Carbide for the gas tragedy are futile. India needs good law on civil liability

What are the challenges in preventing neurotoxic gas leaks?

Lack of awareness: In the Bhopal gas tragedy (1984), insufficient knowledge of the hazards associated with methyl isocyanate led to inadequate safety measures, contributing to the devastating leak.  

Improper maintenance: The Vizag gas leak (2020) at LG Polymers India’s plant in Visakhapatnam occurred due to a technical glitch in the refrigeration unit, highlighting the importance of maintaining proper infrastructure.  

Rapid urbanization: The Gopalapatnam area near the LG Polymers plant in Visakhapatnam was initially a deserted area, but as the city expanded, it became densely populated, increasing the risk of exposure to the styrene gas leak.   

Improper waste disposal: The Surat toxic waste dumping incident (2022) led to six deaths, illustrating the dangers of illegal dumping and improper waste management.  

Lack of emergency preparedness: In the Kochi garbage fire incident (2022), a mountain of waste caught fire and emitted toxic gases for over a week. This highlighted the need for better emergency preparedness to minimize harm to human health and the environment.  

Issues with India’s legal framework: These include inadequate and outdated laws, fragmented and overlapping regulations, inadequate penalties and deterrents, and insufficient focus on prevention, etc.

Non-transparent operations of industries: These include unauthorized activities, unsafe working conditions, and inadequate funding for maintenance all contribute to increased risks of industrial disasters in India.

Read more: Bhopal tragedy compensation fund of ₹50cr unutilised: SC

What should be done?

Enhance awareness: Educate communities and industries about the hazards associated with neurotoxic gases, like the Bhopal gas tragedy, to minimize the risk of similar accidents.  

Strengthen monitoring and enforcement: Increase inspections and enforce regulations to follow appropriate waste disposal methods to prevent illegal dumping that can cause toxic gas leaks.  

Enhance workplace safety: Adopt strict safety measures in industries and formulate proper emergency preparedness plans to prevent accidents and protect workers from toxic gas exposure.  

Encourage research and technological innovation: Support the development of advanced technologies and safer alternatives to hazardous chemicals. This can help minimize the risk of neurotoxic gas leaks and their impact on human health and the environment.  

Strengthen legal framework: Review and update existing laws and regulations related to hazardous materials and industrial safety, ensuring they are comprehensive, effective, and in line with international standards.  

India should adopt role models such as the European Union’s Seveso Directive and REACH regulation, which impose stringent safety requirements and ensure responsible management of chemicals, which could help India strengthen its regulatory framework.

Promote transparency and accountability: Ensure that industries maintain accurate records of hazardous materials and report any incidents or accidents in a timely manner, fostering a culture of transparency and accountability.  

Implement better urban planning: Create buffer zones between industrial facilities and residential areas, as seen in the Navi Mumbai area, to minimize the risk of human exposure to toxic gas leaks.

Note: In Navi Mumbai, designated industrial zones have been established away from residential areas, helping to minimize the potential impact of hazardous materials on nearby communities. 

Sources:  Indian Express (Article 1 and Article 2), Business Standard, The Hindu, Livemint, TOI

Syllabus: GS – 3: Disaster Management: Disaster and disaster management.

Nuh Place, Old Tricks – A Haryana district is the latest cybercrime hotspot. This threat is set to grow as digital transition accelerates

Source: The post is based on the article “Nuh Place, Old Tricks – A Haryana district is the latest cybercrime hotspot. This threat is set to grow as digital transition accelerates” published in The Times of India on 2nd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – basics of cyber security.

Relevance: About cybercrime attacks in India.

News: Recently, over 5,000 policemen raided 300 locations in 14 villages in search of hackers in Nuh district, Haryana. Though the police made multiple arrests, many of them were school dropouts, they are still searching for the mastermind. 

Note: Nuh’s geographical location helped it to become a base of operations because “black spots” make it difficult to trace calls.

Must read: Cyber attacks and Cyber Security in India – Explained Pointwise

About cybercrime attacks in recent times

Cybercrime attacks in the world: In 2022, Interpol surveyed police forces among its member states to publish the first-ever global report on crime trends.

-Police forces across countries identified financial and cybercrime as among the world’s leading crime threats.

-In particular, phishing and online scams were rated as high or very high threats.

Cybercrime attacks in India: The government’s cybercrime portal receives over 3,500 complaints a day. This is a gross underestimate as not all victims know how to file a complaint or even want to file one.

In India, phishing and dubious online platforms offering financial products are the most potent threats.

Read more: Cybercrime went up by 500% during pandemic: Chief of Defence Staff

What are the challenges in restricting Cybercrime attacks?

a) Digital business models offer convenience for cyber attacks, b) India’s huge mobile phone user base made it easier to perpetrate crimes on a large scale from geographically distant locations, c) Regulators are often playing catch-up. For instance, the centre and RBI have cracked down on dubious online loan apps only after they mushroomed, d) India’s chronic underemployment problem creates conditions for young people to try and make money by digital fraud.

Must read: Cyber Attacks in India and Institutional arrangements for Cybersecurity

What should be done?

Regulators and states need to invest far more in enhancing financial awareness to help people be vigilant. Jobs and smart policing are the answer.

The de-dollarisation debate

Source: The post is based on the article “The de-dollarisation debate” published in the Business Standard on 2nd May 2023.

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

Relevance: About the de-dollarisation debate.

News: There are evidences that countries are trying to break away from the USD through de-dollarisation.

How dominant is US Dollar in global trade?

While the US accounts for about 25% of the global gross domestic product (GDP), its true economic power is driven by global dependence on the USD. For example,

a) The USD accounts for approximately 90% of all Forex transactions. That means that the dollar was on one side or the other in nine out of 10 global foreign exchange transactions, b) The dollar also accounts for 85 per cent of all currency forward and swap markets, c) Almost half of all cross-border loans and international debt securities are also denominated in USD. This is despite the fact that non-US entities are the borrower/issuer in 88% of all international debt issuance, d) The dollar is also used for about 50% of all trade invoicing despite the US only accounting for about 12% of global trade and e) The USD comprise 60% of global Forex reserves.

Note: Most central banks do not have more than 10% of gold in their Forex mix (except Russia and Turkey). This is because it provides no yield, and if all major central banks tried to boost their gold holdings, it would have a serious price impact. 

What is de-dollarisation, what are the global efforts towards the De-dollarisation of trade, and How is India pursuing the de-dollarisation of trade?

Must read: De-dollarisation of trade: Opportunities and challenges – Explained, pointwise

What are the negative impacts of de-dollarisation?

Not easy to de-dollarise: The top 20 countries ranked by quantum of Forex reserves, except for China/Hong Kong, the rest are political allies of the US or have some form of cooperation. Hence, the only countries that may try to move away from the USD would be China, HK and Saudi Arabia. 

Of these, HK and Saudi Arabia run a USD peg of their own currencies, and thus cannot move away from dollar easily.

Read here: The possible implications of de-dollarisation of global trade

Hence, the USD is unlikely to lose the reserve currency status.

How should humans respond to advancing artificial intelligence?

Source: The post is based on the article “How should humans respond to advancing artificial intelligence?” published in the Livemint on 2nd May 2023.

Syllabus: GS 3 – Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.

Relevance: About the concerns of AI.

News: Within months of ChatGPT‘s launch, besides its mass adoption, there are intense documentation of its superhuman uses.

What is Artificial Intelligence and Generative AI?

Must Read: Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence): Benefits and Challenges – Explained, pointwise and [Yojana June Summary] Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning – Explained, pointwise

How ChatGPT has evolved so far?

–The AI has breached the ability of humans to skim through thousands of written words to produce an original formulation. Now it is performing market analysis, decryption of ‘Fedspeak’ and sentiment analysis to book summaries, financial planning, website building, economics research, etc.

–Words, music and art are all made by humans and learnt by AI. Now, the AI also have a winning entry in the Sony world photography contest.

Thereby promoting it as a quick-fix panacea to various problems. 

Read more: India must prepare its workforce to assume global leadership of AI

What will be the potential concerns of AI’s rapid development?

The use of machines freed humans to pursue more ‘thoughtful’ ideas. But that is associated with some potential consequences such as,

a) AI can decide for itself and self-propagate, which can lead to catastrophic consequences in the absence of judgment, b) Rapid development of AI might lead to the absence of a human creativity-facilitative ecosystem. Thereby, AI will be learning from AI to decide what is good for humans, c) Humans and accountability have an interesting relationship. But AI does not have such connection. For instance, to “improve firm profitability” instruction, the AI sub-tasks the termination of 50 employees, d) Apart from that, the AI is also opaque and data-corruptible, and e) The AI itself answered that “lack of creativity and intuition”, and “ethical concerns” are the key disadvantages of AI.

Overall, AI is a great tool so long as humans with a conscience are its master. Further, Universal basic income will have to become a reality as some jobs turn obsolete due to the intervention of AI.

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