9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – September 26th, 2022

Current Affairs Compilations for UPSC IAS Prelims 2022

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

• What ails Indian higher education: Government’s licence-permit raj
• How to fix India’s broken police forces, CBI and IB
• Soft power, the new race every country wants to win
• Over the top – on Telecommunication Bill 2022
• Reformed multilateralism
• Making criminals of peaceful protesters diminishes Indian democracy

GS Paper 3

• Greying threat: India must have its version of China’s fusion of civil and military in naval deployment
• Open networks are good but only if they are regulated
• RBI, inflation targeting, and the limits of monetary policy

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

• Palm oil alliance formed by 5 South Asian countries
• Advanced Dvorak Technique(ADT): How this cyclone intensity estimation technique saved millions of lives across continents
• MoHUA to launch ‘Swachh Toycathon’, a unique competition to make toys from ‘Waste’
• Operation Megh Chakra: 50 under CBI scanner over child pornography
• Neurodiversity: India Inc. needs a neurodiverse workplace
• Explained | When are the new ICC rules coming into play?
• Mid-day meal-related food poisoning cases at six-year peak
• Explained | Shifting monsoon patterns
• Nutrition rating stars set to appear soon on food pack labels

Mains Oriented Articles

GS Paper 2

What ails Indian higher education: Government’s licence-permit raj

News: The public institutions have managed to provide quality education to the growing nationals but there are many problems associated with them.

How did Higher Educational Institutions change?

Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) have changed a lot from before. HEIs were mostly public institutions till 2003. Today, around 70 percent of the students studying higher education enroll themselves in private HEIs, due to the implementation of Mandal Commission report.

What are the problems associated with HEIs?

Vacant posts: Around 30 per cent posts were vacant in central universities and 40 per cent posts were vacant only for professors in December 2021.

There is a worse condition in the state universities. For example, 62 per cent posts were vacant in Odisha and two universities had no teachers at all. Around 25 per cent of college posts in Delhi were totally vacant in December 2021.

Appointment: The appointment of faculties goes through a long chain from financial, bureaucratic or judicial hurdles.

Further, temporary and ad hoc professors are burdened with a full-time routine on a fixed salary which is far below normal salary scales. Furthermore, there are regular breaks from their work.

Budget: The discontinuance of Five-Year Plans deprived public universities of their secured development grants.

The budget for central universities rose by 6.6 per cent in the year 2022, which is nominal if adjusted for inflation. While the condition of State HEIs funding is worse.

Originally, the state government used to pay for salaries and maintenance for the universities while central government used to pay for development through UGC.

Today, UGC is not doing the required task as funding schemes are mostly suspended.

RUSA funds: The Education Ministry administers the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA). The RUSA funds were not sufficient. It left the universities with incomplete projects and unemployed staff.

Institute of Eminence (IoE): The Institute of Eminence (IoE) status was awarded to Jadavpur and Anna universities. The IoE tag entitles public HEIs to Rs 1,000 crore. But due to various bureaucratic hurdles the award has not yet been given.

Freedom of operation: There are also another channels for resource mobilisation that can be taken by public universities but this requires freedom of operation. But the Centre and state governments are not ready to give this freedom.

It is necessary to give universities freedom of operations as can be seen from the Jadavpur university. It helped the university to get IoE award as well as University with Potential for Excellence award.

How to fix India’s broken police forces, CBI and IB

News:  Supreme Court gave Prakash Singh judgment on 22^nd September, 2006. This judgment was a landmark judgment that brought police reforms in the country.

This judgment led 22^nd September known as Police Reforms Day.

However, Justice Thomas Committee recorded that states have shown— “indifference to the issue of police reforms”. The statement depicts the dismal state of police reform implementation.

Why is there a need for the police reforms?

Colonial legacy: The Prime Minister of India has recently called for ending the colonial laws that are still present in India.

The Police Act of 1861 which mostly governs the functioning of police even today is a symbol of colonial rule.

The British followed the Irish model of governance of police. The model enables the executive to have complete authority over the police. It has not been changed even after seven decades of Independence.

Economy: India’s economic development can be faster if the country did not have challenges to its internal security.

According to the Institute for Economics and Peace, violence cost the country 7 per cent of its GDP in 2020.

Therefore, economic development depends on proper law and order and we can have good law and order only if we have professional police.

Political leaders: There are political leaders in the Parliament that have criminal backgrounds.

According to the Association of Democratic Reforms, the percentage of such people was 24 per cent in 2004, 30 per cent in 2009, 34 per cent in 2014 and 43 per cent in the last election held in 2019.

Therefore, it becomes difficult for police to take action against them and people with such backgrounds harms our democratic values.

Internal security: The police force is unable to deal with the internal security challenges in India.

Inter security challenges in J & K, Maoists problem, insurgencies in North East are present from many years. We do not have a proper internal security doctrine to solve these issues.

Lack of trust: There is a lack of trust on the police especially from lower strata of the society.

This can only change if police are made free from political and financial influences.

Organized crimes: There has been an increase in organized crimes such as arms and drugs trafficking across the borders. Cybercrimes are also increasing.

These crimes require a high level of expertise from the police and it can only be possible if police are made free from political influences.

Lack of infrastructure: There is a lack of infrastructure in the police department which is also one of the reasons for their poor performance.

Infrastructures such as human resources, transport, communications and forensics need improvement.

Poor job and housing conditions: The National Police Commission had recommended 100 per cent family accommodation for all non-gazetted police personnel. But the satisfaction level is hardly 31.24 per cent.

According to the Status of Policing in India Report, 2019, an average policeman works for 14 hours a day and does not get any weekly off. These all create mental and health problems to police.

Therefore, police should have 12-hour shifts and gradually aim to achieve eight-hour shifts.

Adopting technology: There is a scope for technological adoption in the functioning of the police. Therefore, adopting future technologies in police will help to fulfil grassroots policing requirements and will help in faster functioning of the police.

Statutory provisions: There are various central organizations that need to have statutory support.

For example,

1963. CBI was created on the basis of a resolution passed on April 1, 1963. It derives power to investigate from the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946.
1964. The Intelligence Bureau was set up through an administrative order in 1887. It also needs a statutory basis.

Soft power, the new race every country wants to win

News:

Soft power is defined as power of attraction between the countries through culture, political ideas, and policies rather than military powers.

India is heading towards soft power and it can be seen from the gold medal won by Neeraj Chopra in the Olympics. Further, Indian athletes have also won 61 medals including 22 golds at Common Wealth Games (CWG), 2022.

This can encourage India to become a great geopolitical actor also. However, there is still more to be done by India to improve its status in sports.

How sports have helped in improving soft power of China?

China uses its superiority in sports to build people-to-people relations with other countries.  For example, athletes from African countries such as Madagascar are trained in swimming, badminton, table tennis, etc. in China.

This helps China to create a positive impact on a wider population which also result in better formal relations between the countries.

However, India has inadequately performed in sports when compared to China.

How has India performed in Olympics and what are the reasons associated with that performance?

Performance: India won seven medals in Tokyo Olympic games which was the highest number of medals won in the history of Olympic games in India.

India has one of the world’s poorest population-to-medal ratios in the Olympics. India has won only 35 medals at the Olympics till now.

Reasons: One of the reasons for the poor performance of India is that there is relatively low and little exposure of Indians to sports at the elementary school level.

Competent coach, adequate funding and sports academics are another major issue faced by sports in India.

A Parliamentary report provided that India spends only three paise per day per capita on sports while China spends ₹6.1 per day per capita.

What steps have been taken by the government?

The Ministry of Sports launched the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) to improve India’s performance at the Olympics and Paralympics in 2014.

This scheme helps in extra monetary assistance and training from the best national and international coaches.

However, there are other highlights of the report which shows that India needs to improve its sports in becoming a soft power.

What does different report highlight?

NITI Aayog report came up with a 20-point plan to improve India’s Olympics performance in 2016.

• The report highlighted that India lacks a favorable atmosphere for sports to enhance the skills of early-stage athletes.
• It recommended that efforts should be made at the family, community to school, regional academies, State and national levels to improve things.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has claimed that the digital viewers of Tokyo Olympic Games increased by 74 per cent from the viewers of Rio 2016.

• This shows that there is a great opportunity for India to use such events as a platform to enhance its soft power.

What steps can be further taken by India to increase the country’s sporting performance and soft power?

First, India should concentrate on forming MoUs with nations that excel in specific sports. The aim should be to train Indian players overseas.

• For example, Australia and the United Kingdom can assist us in swimming while African countries can assist in running.

Second, TOPS has showed that focusing on a few sports is beneficial for India to enhance its sporting abilities and standing.

• India should increase the number of athletes under TOPS and at least 500 athletes should be trained to promote a competitive climate.

Third, private investment needs to be used to develop infrastructure.

• The Government should also work on a public-private partnership (PPP) model to create basic sporting infrastructure at the district level which is recommended by NITI Aayog,

Fourth, the Government must also separate politics from sports. Former players rather than politicians should be chosen to lead sports organisations.

Over the top – on Telecommunication Bill 2022

News: The draft telecommunication Bill provides for new definition for telecommunication.

The new definition includes everything from broadcasting services to electronic mail, from voice mail to voice, video and data communication services, and that the Government may notify separately.

However, bringing these services under regulation will be a threat to user’s privacy and data security.

What are the privacy related issues associated with the bill?

SC has said that right to privacy is a fundamental right. But the draft bill has failed to acknowledge it. This can be seen from the various provisions of the drafts.

For example,

1. The Government has the powers to prevent a message from being transmitted on the occurrence of any public emergency or in the interest of public safety.
2. Another clause in the draft Bill requires a license entity to provide information of the person to whom it provides services.

A similar clause under the IT rules was brought in last year.

It required messaging apps to enable the identification of the first originator of the information on its computer resource. However, it has been challenged in the Court.

It brings us to the question of whether this is technically possible without breaking encryption and making all communications vulnerable.

These provisions in the absence of data protection law may create problems for the people.

Therefore, the Government needs to upgrade its thinking on users and privacy and this draft needs to be dropped.

Reformed multilateralism

News– The article explains the need for “reformed multilateralism”. It tells the importance of having multilateral institutions. It also explains India’s effort for reformed multilateralism.

United Nations General Assembly meetings are going to take place this month.

The other important events that are taking place next month  are the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington and the Conference of the Parties on climate change in Egypt. In November, the G20 summit is being held in Indonesia.

These events are important from the perspective of India’s agenda of “reformed multilateralism”.

What is “reformed multilateralism”?

It calls for reforms in the UNSC. It should be a more inclusive organization that shows contemporary global realities.

It calls for reforming institutions of global governance. They should incorporate institutional accountability and be more representative of developing countries.

What are the weaknesses shown by UN led multilateralism?

COVID19– It shows the weakness of UN led multilateralism. Countries closed their borders and supply chains were disrupted. Vaccines were available to a few countries.

Ukraine war– It has not been successful in preventing wars. Russia-Ukraine conflict is a recent example.

China rise– Its rise and aggression in South China shows the limitation of UN-multilateralism. China’s growing dominance and increasing isolation of Russia and Iran could lead to Chinese led multilateral institutions that excludes west.

China’s control of multilateral organizations is only increasing. The most recent example is the unofficial pressure China exerted on the former UN’s human rights chief. It wanted to stop the release of a report by the UN Human Rights Council on the condition of Uyghurs in China.

What are the major global areas that requires multilateralism?

Digital transition–  It will affect all sectors of the global economy, including manufacturing, and will largely determine the future global distribution of taxes, profits, and wages.

Some countries will seek to retain their technological edge. The recent example is the US trying to restrict the sharing of microchip technology with Chinese manufacturers.

Different jurisdictions will have different approaches to privacy and internet governance. It is important that the multilateralism of the 21st century focuses on preventing the control over data, technology.

India is proposing a third way between the private sector-led US model and the state-dominated model of the People’s Republic of China. The Indian approach is to permit domestic digital innovation and profit-making within a structural framework developed by the state. It seeks to ensure equitable access and a level-playing field.

Climate crisis– The multilateral efforts in this field have largely focused on blaming the historical emitters of the west. This is not the right approach.

There is a need to understand which sectors and companies can handle the threats and opportunities represented associated with global green transitions.

The success for countries across the world on this front will depend on availability of financing for green transition.

Green projects in developing countries suffer from multiple financing constraints. Overall risk appetite for green projects in developing countries is low. Currency fluctuations have kept costs high.

Yet, multilateral development banks have been slow to adapt their lending to this new era. Rather than giving grants to individual governments, MDBs need to start focusing on supporting private investment through new mechanisms.

All the shareholders from the US to China to India agree on the need for such mechanisms. The only opposition is the bureaucrats and management of the MDBs. A recent report to the Indonesian G20 presidency underlined the need to change MDB operating structures in a timely manner.

There is a need for creation of a new green lending-focused multilateral institution.

What are efforts by India for reformed multilateralism?

Mr. Jaishankar’s hosting of a ministerial meeting of the G4 (Brazil, India, Germany and Japan)

There is another high-level meeting of the Indian delegation with the L.69 Group for reforming UNSC.

Beyond the UN, India  participation in plurilateral meetings of the Quad, IBSA, BRICS, CELAC and other trilateral formats, such as India-France-Australia, India-France-the United Arab Emirates and India-Indonesia-Australia underlines India’s search for new frameworks of global governance.

Making criminals of peaceful protesters diminishes Indian democracy

News– The article explains the shortcomings in new rules framed under new Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act 2022 . It also explains the reason for the decreasing level of peaceful protest in India.

What are the new rules?

Rules have just been framed for the new Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act 2022 which allows policemen to record the biometrics of those arrested and even if merely detained. Those arrested for violating Section 144, are exempted, but only if they have no other offence registered against them.

Under the new law, the police can store your biometrics till you are acquitted. But for deleting the biometrics, we need an order from a magistrate.

Why is it a dangerous precedent?

The police have no respect for laws. Section 66A of the IT Act was struck down by the Supreme Court seven years ago. The police continue arresting people under this law.

The police’s treatment of peaceful protesters depends on the orders they get and their own prejudices.

To protest peacefully is a fundamental right in a democracy. Our Constitution guarantees it. The Supreme Court has upheld it more than once. To treat peaceful protesters as criminals is not good for democracy.

What are the reasons for lack of peaceful protest in recent years?

In recent years there were few protest like protests against Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula’s suicide in 2016, the kisan long march in Maharashtra in 2018, the anti CAA/NRC protests across cities in 2019-2020, and the farmers’ protests in Delhi in 2020-21. However, these were restricted to specific sections.

There has been the criminalisation of peaceful protest. Earlier protesters were let off in a couple of hours, with no charges filed. But now criminal cases have been filed against peaceful protesters.

For those who want to organise silent demonstrations outside designated places, taking police permission is a very hectic task.

There are biases in the system. Only ruling party supporters are given special favour for holding protests.

GS Paper 3

Greying threat: India must have its version of China’s fusion of civil and military in naval deployment

News: Indian Army chief has recently emphasised the need to develop India’s grey-zone capabilities.

What are grey-zone capabilities?

The grey zone describes a set of activities that occur between peace and war situations. Generally, grey-zone activities are considered gradualist campaigns by state and non-state actors that combine non-military and quasi-military tools.

These are actions that fall below the threshold of armed conflict which aims to thwart, destabilize, weaken, or attack an adversary. They are often tailored toward the vulnerabilities of the target state. For instance, nefarious economic activities, influence operations, cyberattacks, mercenary operations, assassinations, and disinformation campaigns, etc.

China and grey-zone capabilities

China over the last decade has emerged as a fine practitioner of grey-zone warfare. They have an excellent fusion between their civilian and military naval assets.

For instance, a) The so-called Chinese scientific vessel, Yuan Wang 5 was docked at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port. In reality, it was a spy ship capable of tracking intercontinental missiles, b) Chinese deploying civilian trawlers and a maritime militia to assert their maritime claims in the South China Sea, c) China’s so-called Nine Dash Line cartographical innovation that laid claim to almost all of the South China Sea region, d) They even encroach upon traditional fishing grounds and exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of neighbouring states. For instance, 220 Chinese fishing vessels had intruded into the Whitsun Reef area, which is part of the Philippines’ EEZ.

Chinese civilian-military maritime forces mean formidable strategic and tactical worries for India.

What India needs to do to improve its grey-zone capabilities?

India needs to a) Seriously upgrade its coastal defence and sharpen its naval fleet, b) Along with INS Vikrant, India needs many more high-tech naval vessels and listening posts to counter the China threat.

Open networks are good but only if they are regulated

News: The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is being hailed as India’s next digital leap forward. It is expected to revolutionize e-commerce, much like what the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) did for Indian payments.

What is ONDC?

What is the need for ONDC?

During the pandemic, the government found that a) A large percentage of the domestic retail trade was found to be digitally excluded, b) India has a large supply chain break-down, c) Digital commerce in India is dominated by two foreign companies. Further, ongoing investigations against these two companies in the Competition Commission of India stressed the need for a custom-built approach to take on these companies and d) To resolve the challenges faced by small traders and shopkeepers due to demonetization, the introduction of GST and digital trade during lockdowns.

Further, the Success of the UPI during the pandemic forced the government to find a similar “public good” for digital commerce.

What should be done to make ONDC a neural platform?

Make the platform-neutral: ONDC should function as a neutral platform, helping neither the buyer nor the seller. ONDC’s task should be generating trust that every player will have to be treated equally.

The government should not allow political agenda to take place within ONDC. For instance, a political party has decided to launch its own e-commerce app (called Bharat e-Market) on ONDC. These things should be avoided.

Proper regulation: In the UPI space, without proper regulation, two largest players in the UPI space—PhonePe and G-Pay—have ended up controlling over 80% of the market. So, the regulation of ONDC cannot be left to the company.

A nominally independent or autonomous body will have to lay down the ground rules, monitor conduct on the platform and weed out any indications of dominance.

Need clarification: The government need to clarify the incentives that exist for private players to shift their network of suppliers and buyers to ONDC.

RBI, inflation targeting, and the limits of monetary policy

News– The article explains the new statutory framework for inflation targeting. It also explains the reason behind high levels of inflation in recent times and implications of this.

What is the statutory framework for monetary policy?

The Centre, under RBI Act, 1934 has fixed the CPI inflation target at 4% with an upper tolerance limit of 6%.

Read more about Inflation Targeting.

With the enactment of inflation targeting framework, RBI was entrusted with the responsibility of meeting this target (“accountability”). It was given “independence” for the conduct of monetary policy.

Has RBI been able to achieve its target?

Inflation in 2022 has been above 6% every single month from January to August.

During the present government’s first term, inflation was above 6% only for one month after a new inflation targeting framework came into existence.

During the second term, it has exceeded its target in 21 months out of 41 months.

Why RBI needs help of government in controlling inflation?

Food and beverage items have a combined 45.86% weight in the overall CPI (Consumer Price Index).

There has been consistent increase in the general CPI as well as the consumer food price index (CFPI).

During the present government’s first term, average food inflation was low, thus RBI was able to control the inflation. Whereas, during the 2^nd term, food inflation has been high, therefore the inflation has been high.

Average weight of food items in CPI is 45% in India. While, it is 10-25% in developed countries.

The food inflation cannot be controlled through demand side measures like increase in repo rate. There is need for supply side measures.

Therefore, RBI has to be dependent on the government for supply side measures. For example, the government banned wheat exports in May this year. It impacts the independence of RBI in conducting monetary policy.

Inflation control cannot be left to the RBI alone. It needs cooperation between the government and the RBI.

Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)

Palm oil alliance formed by 5 South Asian countries

Source: The post is based on the article “Palm oil alliance formed by 5 South Asian countries” published in Financial Express on 23rd September 2022

What is the News?

Edible oil trade associations from five palm oil importing countries in South Asia – India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal announced the setting up of Asian Palm Oil Alliance (APOA).

What is Asian Palm Oil Alliance(APOA)?

Aim: To safeguard the economic and business interests of the palm oil consuming countries and will work towards increasing the consumption of palm oil in member countries.

– To work towards ensuring that palm oil is recognised as a high-quality, economical, and healthy vegetable oil and to change the negative image of palm oil.

Members: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal

Meeting: APOA held its first general body meeting on the sidelines of the Globoil Summit being held at Agra, India and the next meeting is expected to be held in Indonesia early next year 2023.

What is the significance of this alliance?

Asia accounts for around 40% of the global palm oil consumption while Europe accounts for 12% of the palm oil trade. Indonesia and Malaysia are the biggest palm oil exporters in the world.

India is the largest importer of palm oil in Asia, accounting for 15% of global imports, followed by China (9%), Pakistan (4%) and Bangladesh (2%).

India’s annual imports of edible oil are around 13-14 million tonnes (MT). Around 8 MT of palm oil is imported from Indonesia and Malaysia while other oils, such as soya and sunflower, come from Argentina, Brazil, Ukraine and Russia.

Advanced Dvorak Technique(ADT): How this cyclone intensity estimation technique saved millions of lives across continents

Source: The post is based on the article “How this cyclone intensity estimation technique saved millions of lives across continents” published in Indian Express on 23rd September 2022

What is the News?

American meteorologist Vernon Dvorak, credited for developing the Advanced Dvorak Technique(ADT) in the 1970s, has passed away.

What is Advanced Dvorak Technique(ADT)?

Advanced Dvorak Technique(ADT) is a widely used system to estimate tropical cyclone intensity.

This technique utilizes the available satellite images obtained from polar-orbiting satellites to examine the features of the developing tropical storms (hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons). 

During the daytime, images in the visible spectrum were used while at night, the ocean would be observed using infrared images.

Note: This technique cannot help make any predictions, or measure wind or pressure or any other meteorological parameters associated with the cyclone. But it is a guide to estimate the storm’s intensity and possible intensification.

What is the significance of this technique?

This technique is said to be one of the greatest meteorological innovations. Even in the present day, when forecasters have access to several state-of-the-art tools like model guidance, animations, artificial intelligence, machine learning and satellite technology, this technique continues to be widely used. 

MoHUA to launch ‘Swachh Toycathon’, a unique competition to make toys from ‘Waste’

Source: The post is based on the article “MoHUA to launch ‘Swachh Toycathon’, a unique competition to make toys from Waste” published in PIB on 25th September 2022.

What is the News?

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs(MoHUA) has launched the “Swachh Toycathon” under the Swachh Amrit Mahotsav.

What is Swachh Toycathon?

Swachh Toycathon is a convergence between the National Action Plan for Toys (NAPT) and Swachh Bharat Mission phase two(SBM 2.0).

Aim: To explore solutions for the use of waste in manufacturing toys.

Eligibility: The Toycathon will be open to individuals and groups to bring forth innovation in toy designs using dry waste. 

Focus: The focus will be on efficient designs that can be replicated on a larger scale, toys that comply with minimum safety standards and aesthetics of the toys.

Knowledge Partner: The Center for Creative Learning, IIT Gandhinagar is the knowledge partner for the initiative. 

What is the National Action Plan for Toys(NAPT)?

National Action Plan for Toys(NAPT) was launched in 2020 to promote the Indian toy industry including traditional handicrafts and handmade toys with the objective of establishing India as a global Toy hub.

Nodal Ministry: The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade(DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with 14 ministries of the Central government are currently implementing various aspects of the NAPT.

Operation Megh Chakra: 50 under CBI scanner over child pornography

Source: The post is based on the article “Operation Megh Chakra: 50 under CBI scanner over child pornography” published in The Hindu on 25th September 2022

What is the News?

The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) has conducted an operation code-named “Megh Chakra”.

What is Operation Megh-Chakra?

Operation Megh Chakra ​​is a pan-India drive against the circulation and sharing of Child Sexual Abuse Material(CSAM).

The operation is being carried out following the inputs received from Interpol’s Singapore special unit.

Note: CBI had launched a similar exercise code-named “Operation Carbon in 2021 in which the suspects in 13 States and one Union Territory were raided.

What are the other steps taken by CBI against Child Sexual Abuse?

CBI constituted a special unit called Online Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention/ Investigation (OCSAE) in 2019.

Aim: To investigate matters pertaining to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. To collate and investigate information received from the embassies and overseas federal probe agencies about organised rackets which are active in online child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Neurodiversity: India Inc. needs a neurodiverse workplace

Source: The post is based on the article “India Inc. needs a neurodiverse workplace” published in The Hindu on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

According to a study, organizations embracing neurodiversity enjoy a competitive edge in several areas such as efficiency, creativity and culture.

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity in the workplace refers to including people with neurodivergent conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Asperger’s Syndrome. 

Harvard Health Publishing defines neurodiversity as a notion that every person interacts and experiences their surroundings differently; there is no right way of thinking, learning, or/and behaving. These differences should not be construed as defects or disorders.

Why is Neurodiversity important?

According to a recent report, nearly 2 million people in India suffer from this neurological and developmental disorder and are therefore identified as autistic. 

Another study by Deloitte estimates that nearly 20% of the world is neurodiverse. 

In the U.S., it is estimated that 85% of people on the autism spectrum are unemployed compared with 4.2% of the overall population. 

Hence, there is an urgency to create a work environment that welcomes neurodiverse individuals.

How can we foster neurodiversity in the workplace?

Stigma, a lack of awareness, and a lack of appropriate infrastructure (such as office setup or staffing structures) can cause the exclusion of people with neurodevelopmental differences. 

Understanding and embracing neurodiversity in communities, schools, healthcare settings and workplaces can improve inclusivity for all people.

Explained | When are the new ICC rules coming into play?

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | When are the new ICC rules coming into play?” published in The Hindu on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has come up with a host of changes in the rules on the playing conditions of cricket. The changes will come into effect on October 1. 

What are the significant changes being made?

Mankading: Mankading is basically the act of a bowler running out a batter on the non-striker’s end if he/she is backing up and too far ahead of the crease before the ball is delivered. 

– Mankading will now be moved from the section on Unfair Play to the one on Run Out. 

Use of saliva to polish the ball: This prohibition has been in place for over two years in international cricket as a Covid-related temporary measure and is now being banned permanently.

Batters returning when caught: When a batter is out caught, the new batter will come in at the end the striker was, regardless of whether the batters crossed prior to the catch being taken. 

– Previously, in case the batters crossed before a catch was taken, the non-striker would take strike the next ball while the new batter would be at the non-striker’s end.

Penalizing Team for poor over rate: This penalty has already been in force in T20Is since January this year and will be adopted in the ODIs as well, but only after the completion of the ICC Cricket World Cup Super League(2020-2023).

– According to rules, if a team fails to bowl its overs in the given time, an additional fielder will have to be placed inside the 30-yard circle, for the remaining overs. That could make saving runs tougher for the fielding side.

Mid-day meal-related food poisoning cases at six-year peak

Source: The post is based on the article “Mid-day meal-related food poisoning cases at six-year peak” published in The Hindu on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The cases of food poisoning due to the consumption of mid-day meals in 2022 are the highest in the last six years.

Food Poisoning due to Mid Day Meal Scheme

In 2022, 979 victims of food poisoning were reported in schools across India, the highest in the last six years. The number declined during the pandemic years as schools were closed. 

In the last 13 years, at least 9,646 such cases of food poisoning were reported. Close to 12% of such victims became ill after consuming mid-day meals in which lizards, rats, snakes and cockroaches were found. 

Most such cases were recorded in Karnataka, Odisha, Telangana, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

What are the reasons for low standards of midday meal preparation?

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India have audited several States in the past decade and have cited many reasons that could lead to low standards of midday meal preparation such as 1) poor infrastructure, 2) insufficient inspections, 3) irregular licensing, 4) limiled reporting and 5) absence of feedback mechanisms. 

Explained | Shifting monsoon patterns

Source: The post is based on the article “Explained | Shifting monsoon patterns” published in The Hindu on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that the monsoon has begun to retreat from Rajasthan.

What is the Monsoon withdrawal?

The monsoon is a sea breeze that has consistently landed in the Indian sub-continent for thousands of years. 

It enters mainland India between the last week of May and the first week of June — through June 1 is its official onset date over Kerala. 

The IMD only counts the rainfall between June 1 and September 30 as monsoon rainfall. This doesn’t mean that the monsoon system ceases to pour rain over India from October 1. 

In fact, monsoon-related rain can continue well into the first fortnight of October and only really retreats from India by late October. 

It is then replaced by the retreating, or northeast monsoon in November which is the key source of rainfall for several parts of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and north interior Karnataka.

When does the monsoon withdraw?

The monsoon begins its withdrawal from the last State it reaches, which is Rajasthan.

Around September 15, cyclonic systems from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal that fuels the monsoon from June-September are replaced by an ‘anticyclone’ circulation which means dry, windless conditions start to prevail over western and northern India. 

How has the monsoon been this year?

Monsoon rainfall in India has been surplus by around 7% this year though with extreme inequity.

Central and southern India saw a sharp surge in rainfall. Rains in Central India were surplus by 20% and in southern India by 25%, with the last month seeing several instances of flooding in Kerala, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. 

On the other hand, large parts of the U.P, Bihar, and Odisha have seen large deficits. The east and northeast of India have reported a 17% shortfall and the northwest 2%. 

What led to excessive rains in Southern and Central India?

These heavy rains are due to La Nina, the converse phenomenon of El Nino and characterized by cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific.

While El Ninas are linked to reduced rains over India, La Ninas indicate surplus rainfall. 

India is seeing an extended spell of the La Nina, called a ‘triple dip’ La Nina which is a phenomenon lasting across three winter seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. This is only the third time since 1950 that a triple-dip La Nina has been observed. 

Nutrition rating stars set to appear soon on food pack labels

Source: The post is based on the article “Nutrition rating stars set to appear soon on food pack labels” published in Indian Express on 26th September 2022

What is the News?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India(FSSAI) has issued a draft notification on front-of-package labelling which proposes “Indian Nutrition Rating”(INR) on food packets.

This move is aimed at letting consumers know the items with high salt, fat and sugar and to allow them to make informed choices while purchasing them.

What is Indian Nutrition Rating(INR)?

The INR system rates the overall nutritional profile for packaged food by assigning it a rating from ½ % star (least healthy) to 5 stars (healthiest). 

More stars indicate the food product is better positioned to provide for the daily human need of nutrients. 

The rating shall be displayed close in proximity to the name or brand name of the product on front of pack.

To generate the star-rating logo for the product, food businesses have to submit nutritional profiles of the products concerned on FSSAI’s FoSCoS (Food Safety Compliance System) portal.

What are the criteria for food Rating?

Contribution of energy 

Content of saturated fat, sugar, sodium, fruit and vegetables (FV), nuts, legumes, and millets (NLM), dietary fiber, and protein per 100 gm of solid or 100 ml of liquid foods. 

Solid food with a score of more than 25 will be given 0.5 stars and those with a score less than minus 11 (-11) will get 5 stars.

Exempted Products from the star rating

Food such as milk and milk products, whey, butter oil, ghee, vegetable oil and fat, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, fresh and frozen meat, egg, fish, flour and sweeteners will not have to display the star rating. 

Carbonated beverages without any energy or sugar will also not be eligible for declaring the rating.

What is the criticism against this rating system of foods?

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