9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – February 15th, 2023
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Mains Oriented Articles
GS PAPER - 1
Hindi in the world: In the era of cultural-flattening, India must strengthen its linguistic traditions
Source– The post is based on the article “Hindi in the world: In the era of cultural-flattening, India must strengthen its linguistic traditions” published in The Indian Express on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS1- Indian culture
Relevance– Issues related to languages
News– Fiji is hosting the 12th World Hindi Conference between February 15 and 17.
What is the status of Hindi in the UN?
India has achieved limited progress at the United Nations regarding Hindi. The UN has now made a provision to provide all the important messages and press releases in Hindi.
However, the government is making all efforts to ensure a rightful place for Hindi at the UN.
What are the challenges before Hindi and other other languages?
Speaking in Hindi or regional languages is considered inferior in India, due to the burden of colonialism. The ability to converse in English has become a status symbol.
Some politicians indulge in linguistic chauvinism. But, the family members of such politicians are schooled in English medium.
How can Indian languages have a global presence?
Indian languages need to be first respected in their motherland.
Every language keeps evolving. No language can continue to grow without accommodating some more meaningful terms from sister languages. However, there should not be mindless adulterations.
Hindi needs to be saved from the onslaught of English and other Indian languages from English and Hindi. Hindi-speaking people should ensure respect and recognition for all other Indian languages. Usage is the lifeblood of any language.
There is a need for hand-holding between Indian languages. Quality translations from Indian languages to other Indian and world languages are necessary. It is time to evolve a mechanism for translating award-winning literary works in Indian languages into all UN languages.
Engineering and medical education in Hindi is now a reality. If other Indian languages follow suit, they could evolve as languages of the knowledge era. New concepts, new technologies and new knowledge-creation demand new coinages and new terms.
In a globalised world, Hindi also needs to engage with other foreign languages, especially in the neighbourhood.
Understanding our very own cultural moorings, taking legitimate pride in our history and our heritage is the prerequisite for the sustenance of languages. In that sense, Hindi and other Indian languages have to further strengthen their roots and then expand their horizons.
GS PAPER - 2
Japan’s evolving relations with the Global South
Source– The post is based on the article “Japan’s evolving relations with the Global South” published in The Indian Express on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS2- International relations
Relevance– Changing foreign policy priorities of the countries
News– Japan is now emphasising on the Global South amidst a major transformation of its foreign and security policies under Kishida’s leadership.
How has Japan shown impressive leadership in the world of strategic ideas in recent times?
Japan has constructed and popularised the Indo-Pacific construct over the last decade and more.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe first articulated the idea of the Indo-Pacific in an address to the Indian Parliament in August 2007. He called for a coalition of Asian democracies that eventually took the form of the Quadrilateral forum.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has now taken the initiative to raise the Global South to the top of the G7 agenda.
In a major policy speech in Washington last month, Japan’s PM Kishida cautioned other G7 countries on the dangers of neglecting the Global South. Kishida is conscious that the West has neglected political engagement with the Global South in recent decades.
Kishida is firm in his conviction that the G7 can’t “impose its values” on the Global South. Kishida has told his G7 partners that we need to be more committed to our values.There is a need to have a firm understanding of historical and cultural backgrounds of the global south.
Japan now wants the G7 to reconnect with the Global South in more fundamental ways. Kishida believes that greater cooperation between the G7 and the developing countries is also critical for addressing the current global challenges.
What are the major changes in foreign and security policies of Japan under Kishida’s leadership?
Kishida is among the few leaders in Asia who has clearly articulated the implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago this month. If unilateral change of the status quo by force is unchallenged, it will happen elsewhere in the world, including Asia.
Kishida has announced sweeping reform in Japan’s defence policy. This involved doubling the defence spending to 2% of the GDP over the next 5 years, building a large missile force, boosting cybersecurity capabilities, and taking larger responsibilities for regional security and capacity building in the Indo-Pacific.
Japan has adopted new realist diplomacy. Japan now recognises the essential relationship between diplomacy and defence.
How is Kishida’s new approach beneficial from the Indian perspective?
Kishida’s new approach provides the basis for more substantive and wider collaboration between Delhi and Tokyo in the developing regions of the world.
India should welcome Kishida’s new interest in the Global South. Japan’s initiatives on the Indo-Pacific and the Quad have broken the misperception of Asia as being merely Sino-centric.
The India-Japan partnership on the Global South might help overcome the traditional divides between East and West as well as North and South.
Shaping a more disabled-friendly digital ecosystem
Source– The post is based on the article “Shaping a more disabled-friendly digital ecosystem” published in The Hindu on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS2- Vulnerable sections of the population
Relevance– Issues related to persons with disability
News– The article explains the issue of accessibility of digital space for persons with disabilities.
What are some statistics related to people with disabilities?
As per estimation in Census 2011, 2.21% of India’s population is disabled. This is a gross underestimation.
According to the World Health Organization, about 16% of the global population is disabled. If it is applied to the Indian context, there are at least 192 million disabled people.
India had 750 million Internet/smartphone users in 2020. Applying the 16% figure here, means roughly 12 crore Internet users with disabilities.
What is the status of accessibility of digital space?
A report evaluates the accessibility of 10 of the most widely used apps in India, across five sectors. These sectors were chosen based on broad stakeholder consultation with people with disabilities.
Based on the number of violations, the level of accessibility of the apps was categorised as
“high”, “medium” and “low”. The report found that four apps ranked low, five were in the medium category.
What is the way forward to improve the accessibility of digital space?
There is a need to work with these service providers. They need help to design practices and processes that will not only improve app accessibility but also educate their stakeholders about accessibility and people with disabilities.
This will also help change attitudes of the business community around disability in the country. They will move away from a charity approach to a rights-based and investment outlook.
Technology is used to automate a large number of accessibility tests, and combine that with in-depth manual testing to provide comprehensive accessibility feedback to developers.
AI can help to further automate the accessibility testing process. Feedback from users with disabilities can now be analysed at scale to provide actionable insights to developers and companies.
Everything digital must be accessible to everyone. This starts with incorporating the principles of accessibility and inclusive design into every digital offering from inception.
India needs to be truly accessible for all people with disabilities. Organisations, companies, civil society, the government and the courts must work upon it.
Ladakh, a fragile region, needs autonomy
Source– The post is based on the article “Ladakh, a fragile region, needs autonomy” published in The Hindu on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS2- Devolution of power and finances up to local level
Relevance– Regional political issues
News– The residents of Ladakh are agitating to pursue their demand for special constitutional Status.
What is the reason behind the grievances of people in Ladakh?
Political status– Their real need for relatively free and autonomous functioning and substantial local employment generation is still not fulfilled.
For 1,000 years, Ladakh was an independent kingdom before being integrated into Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The memory of this long history has not been erased. It is now being ruled from New Delhi.
Since 1995, Ladakh has had an AHDC with the aim of enabling locally determined development. However, decision-making was mostly dominated by Srinagar and Delhi.
In 2019, the Indian government had announced that Ladakh would get special constitutional status providing it autonomy.
Before the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council election, Sixth Schedule status was promised to the region, similar to some parts of north-east India. This promise is yet to be fulfilled.
Developmental model– Ladakh is a sensitive ecosystem. Cultures and livelihoods are sensitive to the fragility of ecosystems that cannot bear heavy human activity.
High-altitude pastoralism, agriculture, and trade have been the mainstays of Ladakhi economy and society for centuries. Administrators appointed from Delhi do not comprehend the need of such a landscape.
Ladakh is already groaning under infrastructure development, intense armed forces presence, and excessive tourism.
Since Ladakh became a UT, there is even more focus on an exploitative ‘development’ path. There is enormous commercial interest for mining, tourism, hydropower, and other natural resources.
Ladakh already faces serious problems of landslides, erosion, solid waste and effluents, disturbance to wildlife, and cordoning of common lands for development projects.
What is the way forward to fulfil the demand of Ladakhi people?
There are opportunities for Ladakh and Delhi to work together. A Hill Council decision for Ladakh agriculture to become fully organic could be backed by the Central government. Communities could be assisted to claim and operationalise collective rights over grasslands using the Forest Rights Act.
Tourism could be fully oriented towards community-run, ecologically sensitive visitation.
A constitutional status that enables locally determined pathways, driven by a sensitive local population is the need of the day.
More Minnus, Draupadis – Every tribal success story is a reminder how much govts need to do for genuine Adivasi empowerment
Source: The post is based on the article “More Minnus, Draupadis – Every tribal success story is a reminder how much govts need to do for genuine Adivasi empowerment” published in The Times of India on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS 2 – Social Justice
Relevance: concerns associated with tribals in India
News: Minnu Mani, a tribal girl from the Kurichiya tribe in Kerala has secured a contract in the Women’s Premier League auction.
This is an effort towards empowering the tribal communities in India, however, there are also problems associated with the tribal communities.
What are the concerns associated with tribals in India?
Declining conditions: As per the Tribal Development Report 2022, tribes constitute 8.6% of the population.
Despite a lower share, their condition is worse than others when it comes to access to sanitation, drinking water, education and proper nutrition.
The report also says that tribal communities have been pushed away from the fertile lands which has affected their livelihoods. Of the total Scheduled Tribe districts in the country, 90% are in either forested or hilly or dry areas.
Concerns with amendments to Forest Conservation Rules: Tribals have protested against the amendments made in the Forest Conservation Rules last year.
They say that the amendments take away the rights of tribes and forest dwellers over forest resources provided by the Forest Rights Act, 2009.
Moreover, these amendments give an advantage to businesses to easily obtain forest land for commercial purposes. Thus, affecting the tribal welfare.
Political Issues: Tribals have been mostly used for political purposes such as to get votes while their conditions have not been improved.
Fossil and time: On the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill
Contents
- 1 About the Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill
- 2 What is the need for the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill?
- 3 What are the challenges associated with the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill?
- 4 What should be done to make the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill comprehensive?
Source: The post is based on the article “Fossil and time: On the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill” published in The Hindu on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS 2 – Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Relevance: About Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill.
News: Recently, the Ministry of Mines has introduced a Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2022. The bill provides more powers to the Geological Survey of India(GSI).
About the Draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill
Must read: Draft Bill vests powers entirely in Geological Survey of India, say expert |
What are Geo-Heritage sites?
Read here: Geological Heritage Sites |
What is the need for the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill?
There are numerous initiatives to preserve cultural history and man-made artefacts from archaeology. But, there has been limited effort to preserve and communicate the natural ‘geo-history’ rock formations, sediment and fossil.
For decades, researchers have been warning that India’s neglect of ‘geo-history’ will lead to an erasure of India’s geo history from the public mind and destruction as well as the appropriation of this natural wealth. The bill aimed at protecting the geo-history of India.
What are the challenges associated with the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill?
–Absolute vesting of powers in the GSI alone may impede palaeontological research.
-Given the premium for land and India’s economic needs, there will be conflict over questions of preservation and livelihood.
What should be done to make the draft Geo-heritage Sites and Geo-relics bill comprehensive?
Need an inclusive body: A more inclusive body, on the lines of a National Geoheritage Authority, has to be created and vested with powers.
Proper framing of rules: The legislation will act as a ring fence. Hence, the government should not use it as a tool for suppressing independent investigation.
Domestic Workers in India: Status and Issues – Explained, pointwise
Contents
For 7PM Editorial Archives click HERE → |
Introduction
The abuse faced by a domestic worker in her employer’s home in Gurgaon has sparked outrage. However, such outrage is often short-lived. Violence against domestic workers in India has been reported for many years. Yet, their exploitation receives attention only when individual cases of violence get reported in the media. The response of the Union and State Governments is also reactive e.g., in the present case the Government of Jharkhand has set up a team to probe the case. There no uniform policy or legislation has been formulated regarding the domestic workers. As majority of such workers are migrants, there is a need for greater coordination between the Union and State Governments to address the challenges faced by the domestic workers
What is domestic work and the current status with respect to Domestic Workers in India?
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO ) Domestic Workers Convention, 2011, Article 1: (a) The term ‘domestic work’ means work performed in or for a household or households; (b) The term ‘domestic worker’ means any person engaged in domestic work within an employment relationship; (c) A person who performs domestic work only occasionally or sporadically and not on an occupational basis is not a domestic worker.
Based on everyday working hours and nature of employment, domestic workers are classified into part-time, full-time and live-in workers.
Source: SPRF
Current Status: It is estimated that there are 4.8 million domestic workers including 2.9 million female domestic workers. Domestic work accounts for 3.5% of women’s total employment. Domestic workers form the third-largest category of workers after agriculture and construction. However, according to the National Domestic Workers’ Movement, the number of domestic workers exceeds 50 million. More than 66% of the workers are working in urban areas. The share of women and girls in domestic work is rising at a much rapid pace, accounting for 75% increase in the number of workers in the last decade.
The majority of domestic workers in India are illiterate/ minimally educated and low-skilled. ~200,000 children are employed as domestic help and in dhabas.
What are the challenges faced by Domestic Workers in India?
Poor Working Conditions: Domestic workers are denied minimum wages. They lack any social security cover. Many workers are exploited to work for long hours. Live-in workers are more vulnerable to physical abuse and harassment. Most domestic workers are poor migrants with no other skills. Moreover, a majority of domestic workers belong to the SC/STs. They are more vulnerable to exploitation due to their lack of literacy and their social status.
Source: SPRF
Lack of Laws to Protect Rights: The domestic workers in India are not covered by any Act. The National Commission for Women had drafted the Domestic Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill in 2008-10. The Bill had sought to cover various aspects like wages, working conditions, offences and penalties, and creation of Domestic Workers Welfare Fund among others. However, the Bill wasn’t passed. Similarly, the Draft Policy on Domestic Workers has been waiting for approval since 2017. In the absence of any regulation regarding working condition, workers remain vulnerable to exploitation.
Issues in Implementation: Domestic work was added to the list of scheduled employment under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, which coincided with the 2011 ILO convention 189. However, the implementation remains poor, with most domestic workers working below minimum wage level. Only 13 States/UTs have passed legislation requiring minimum wages for domestic employees.
The Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008, requires all States to establish welfare boards to ensure domestic workers receive benefits. However, several States have not complied with the requirement.
Insufficient Data: There is lack of reliable data regarding number of domestic workers. There is large variation among estimates, with number of workers varying from 4 million to 50 million. The absence of data acts as a barrier to the formulation of appropriate plans and the allocation of resources for the improvement of the conditions of domestic workers.
Informal Placement Agencies/Housekeeping Companies: The companies that provide domestic workers in urban areas themselves function in an informal manner. They are more focused on their own profits and care little about the rights of the workers. Lack of scrutiny of their functioning contributes to the exploitation of the workers.
Neglect of Domestic Labour Rights: Legislation pertaining to workers such as the Industry Disputes Act, 1947, the Employee’s Provident Fund Act, 1952, and the Factories Act, 1948, do not recognise the labour performed by domestic workers in private households as ‘work’.
Poor Unionisation: Only a small fraction of domestic workers are unionised or are part of organised groups. Lack of unionisation reduces their bargaining power to demand better wages. In the absence of any union, no support mechanism is available to workers facing exploitation and physical abuse.
What steps have been taken for the welfare of Domestic Workers?
Safeguards: There are some Constitutional safeguards e.g., Article 23 (under Fundamental Rights) prohibits traffic in human beings, begar and other forms of forced labour. Article 39(e) under Directive Principles exhorts the State to ensure that the health and strength of individuals are not abused and that no one is forced by economic necessity to do work unsuited to their age or strength.
Domestic workers in India have been included in The Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008 and The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. The Child Labour Act has included domestic work in prohibited employment for children only up to age of 14 years. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2000 has been effective to some extent in the rescue of workers below the age of 18 years.
Schemes and Other Initiatives: The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) was extended to cover domestic workers. They are now covered under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana.
The e-Shram portal aims to register 38 crore unorganised workers in the country.
A Voluntary Employers’ Pledge to Promote Decent Work for Domestic Workers in India was launched and adopted by All India Organizations of Employers and Employers Federation of India.
The Union Minister for Labour and Employment has flagged off the first ever All India Survey on Domestic Workers (DW).
Global Initiatives: (a) The Palermo Protocol, part of the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, provides the definition of ‘trafficking in persons‘. A definition of trafficking that is in accordance with the Palermo Protocol has been integrated into the domestic law of India; (b) The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the European Commission have collaborated to establish operational indicators of trafficking in humans; (c) Convention 29 of the International Labor Organization was passed in 1930. It has defined forced or compulsory labour. Convention 189 of the ILO mandates decent working conditions for domestic workers.
What more steps should be taken going ahead?
First, there is a need for greater social and political commitment to address the challenges faced by domestic workers. In the absence of such commitment, the abuse will continue.
Second, Due to differences among categories of domestic workers (like part-time, live-in etc.), the methods of determining minimum wages are complex (employing either ‘a need-based formula’ or a living wage, based on time and piece rate). There is a need to standardise the type and amount of work performed.
Third, The data regarding migrant workers must be improved. This will help in better assessment regarding the status of domestic workers.
Fourth, Since most domestic workers in India are migrants, there is need for better cooperation among States to address the issues. The Union Government can step-in to ensure better coordination. A draft Model Act can be enacted by the Parliament which can be adapted by States according to their local conditions.
Fifth, A report by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) recommends that the Government should formulate a binding National Policy on Domestic Workers, instead of providing general guidelines.
Sixth, The Government has developed an Integrated National Plan of Action against Trafficking. The Government is also taking steps to put some remedial measures in place in the form of Integrated Anti-Trafficking Units and Anti-Trafficking nodal cells. However, there is a need for a more comprehensive legislation on labour trafficking.
Seventh, the CHRI Report recommends that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act of 2013, must be reviewed to improve complaint mechanisms for domestic workers.
Eighth, There is a need to sustain and support organizations for domestic workers to improve their bargaining power. Civil society should take the lead in encouraging collective action among the workers.
Conclusion
Domestic Workers in India have been facing exploitation for long. Several social and political factors make them vulnerable. The lack of dedicated legal provisions and poor implementation of existing provisions has led to the present status. The Union and State Governments must step in formulate comprehensive policy and legislation to protect their rights. Violation of rights of workers should be dealt with strictly. At the same time, there is a need for greater sensitization to prevent instances of physical abuse.
Syllabus: GS I, Social Empowerment; GS II, Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population by the Centre and States and the performance of these schemes.
Source: Indian Express, SPRF, National Domestic Workers’ Movement, The Leaflet
GS PAPER - 3
Let’s Go Against the Grain of Wheat, Rice Bias
Contents
Source: The post is based on the article “Let’s Go Against The Grain Of Wheat, Rice Bias” published in The Times of India on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS 3 – Agriculture
Relevance: benefits of millets and measures taken to promote it
News: The article discusses the reasons behind the decline in the use of millets and the efforts taken by the government to revive it.
What were the reasons behind the decline in the use of millets?
One of the reasons behind the decline in the use of millets is the green revolution.
Green revolution technology and policy environment gave rice and wheat an advantage over millets and millets were considered as inferior crops, despite of its multiple benefits.
What are the benefits of millets?
Millets are nutritious. They reduce – a) Iron deficiency anaemia, b) Risk of type II diabetes, c) BMI and obesity, d) Calcium deficiency e) helps with hyperlipidemia.
Millets are also found to help overcome malnutrition. Within millets, minor millets are even more nutritious and healthy.
Moreover, millets are the least water demanding crops. They can live in harsh environments and withstand various biotic and abiotic stresses like rise in temperature, drought etc.
However, the government has taken several measures to promote millets.
What steps have taken by the government to promote millets?
GoI and some states have taken some initiatives since 2012 to promote millets.
Millets were officially declared as Nutri Cereals in 2018 which was declared as the National Year of Millets.
India has also brought millets on the global platform by getting UNGA to declare the year 2023 as an International Year of Millet.
However, despite these efforts, there is hardly any improvement in the consumption of millets.
As per NSSO’s consumer expenditure survey, the consumption of millets amongst the lower section of the society has declined from 1. 59 kg millets/ month per capita in 1993-94 to 0. 27 kg by 2011-2012.
However, the budget 2023-24 has tried to address the issues related to millets.
What are some efforts announced in the Budget 2023-24 for millets?
The budget has designated millets as “Shree Anna”. Therefore, emphasis needs to be given to expand the area under millet and increase their productivity by making them attractive to the producers.
The budget has also announced support for R&D in millets through a centre of excellence to be set up in Indian Institute of Millets Research, Hyderabad.
What can be the way ahead?
First, India needs to speed up technological development for millets. Millet specific machines and equipment need to be developed to handle large scale production.
Second, Producers need to be empowered through FPOs, SHGs and cooperatives, to take advantage of rising consumer preference and willingness to pay better prices for millets.
Read More: Millet Production in India – Explained
Boosting productivity – Nano-fertilisers will improve efficiency
Source: The post is based on the article “Boosting productivity – Nano-fertilisers will improve efficiency” published in the Business Standard on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS 3 – Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies.
Relevance: About advantages of Nano-fertilisers.
News: Recently, the government approved the commercial release of nano-DAP (di-ammonium phosphate). The first batch of nano-DAP will hit the market in the upcoming kharif sowing season.
About nano-DAP
DAP is the second-most used plant nutrient in India. The actual production cost of conventional DAP is around Rs 4,000 per bag.
On the other hand, a 500 ml bottle of nano-DAP, equivalent to a 50-kg bag of conventional DAP, is likely to cost the farmers around Rs 600. It is less than half the subsidised price of Rs 1,350 for normal DAP.
About other nano-fertilisers
The government already rolled out nano-urea in 2021. Urea is the most-consumed fertiliser in India.
Nano versions of the third-most important plant nutrient potash and micronutrients like zinc and copper are said to be in advanced stages of development.
What are the advantages of Nano-fertilisers?
More effective suppliers of plant nutrition: Nano-fertilisers containing soil nutrients in ultra-minuscule-sized particles, measuring less than one-billionth of a millimetre. They generally prove more effective suppliers of plant nutrition because of a) the larger number of particles per unit of volume, b) a higher cumulative surface area, c) greater water solubility and d) after sprayed on leaves, nano-particles easily penetrate the stomata and other openings to get assimilated in plant cells.
Hence, they also provide increased yield on the field. For instance, crops sprayed with liquid nano-urea have been found to give a 3-16% higher yield than those treated with equivalent quantities of granulated urea.
Saving on fertiliser subsidies: India’s fertiliser subsidy bill is estimated at Rs 2.25 trillion this year. It can be dropped down to nill with the introduction of nano-fertilisers.
Provide chances for export: The Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative, which has pioneered the research, development and commercialisation of these patent-protected nano fertilisers is already receiving requests from other countries for nano fertilisers.
The other advantages are, a) Nano-fertilisers will make India self-reliant in vital farm inputs, b) minimise the damage to the environment as they do not pollute air, soil and water like normal fertilisers do, c) facilitate higher farm output at a lower cost to boost the profitability of agriculture and d) raise farmers’ income.
They make farming sustainable and eco-friendly.
Read more: Cost advantages – Nano-fertilisers will reduce subsidy outgo |
Generative AI prompts serious questions of copyright
Source: The post is based on the article “Generative AI prompts serious questions of copyright” published in the Livemint on 15th February 2023.
Syllabus: GS 3 – Awareness in the fields of IT.
Relevance: About AI generated art.
News: The improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) with ChatGPT has shown the importance of generative AI.
How generative AI aid in creating AI generated art?
-Ordinary people with no formal artistic training can create stunning visual arts and images in the style of famous artists using generative AI tools like DALL-E and Stable Diffusion.
Read more: The potential of generative AI: creating media with simple text prompts |
What are the challenges associated with AI generated art?
Issue of copyright: To create output in the styles of so many artists, the AI must have been trained on hundreds of samples of their work. Every output it generates is an original work that has no one-to-one correspondence to any part or whole of any image of a given artist.
However, it is not clear whether it constitute the offence of “copying” under copyright law or not.
The US Copyright Office has already declared that AI generated art is not entitled to intellectual property protection as it lacks the “nexus between the human mind and creative expression”.
Read more: Challenging Google – New AI-driven search can be disruptive |
Prelims Oriented Articles (Factly)
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