10 Apr 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 10 April 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
C. GS 3 Related
ENVIRONMENT
1. India’s tiger population tops 3,000, shows census
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Second Space Age
2. Directing AI for better and smarter legislation
F. Prelims Facts
1. International Prize in Statistics
G. Tidbits
1. India to bridge language gap with neighbours
2. Centre plans revamp of livestock insurance scheme to raise coverage
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

2. Directing AI for better and smarter legislation

Syllabus: Indigenization of Technology & Developing New Technology

Mains: Utilisation of Artificial Intelligence for better law making process.

Context: This article discusses the potential of AI for better and smarter legislation.

Introduction:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a significant technological advancement that can revolutionise various fields. In recent years, it has been increasingly applied in the field of law, particularly in drafting and implementing legislation. 
  • India, being the world’s largest democracy and a country with a vast population, could significantly benefit from the use of AI in legislation. 
  • AI has the potential to create better, more efficient, and smarter legislation that could help address the challenges that the country faces.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has given a strong thrust to the Digital India initiative and a digitisation of services. This momentum needs to be kept up and utilised in the field of law, policy-making, and parliamentary activities, harnessing the power of AI. 

Challenges in the Current Legislative Process in India:

  • The legislative process in India faces several challenges, including delays, inefficiencies, and lack of transparency. The current legislative process is time-consuming and involves multiple stages, including drafting, review, and approval. 
  • The legislative process involves multiple stakeholders, including lawmakers, bureaucrats, and stakeholders. The lack of coordination among these stakeholders can lead to delays, redundancies, and inconsistencies in the legislation.
  • Transparency is another challenge in the current legislative process in India. The legislative process is often opaque, with limited access to information for the public. This lack of transparency can lead to mistrust among the public and limit their participation in the legislative process.

Applications of AI in Lawmaking:

  • One of the most significant applications of AI in the lawmaking process is legal research and analysis. AI-powered tools can be used to analyse vast amounts of legal data, such as case law, statutes, and regulations. This can help lawmakers identify legal precedents and trends and make more informed decisions when creating legislation.
  • AI tools can also be used to analyse the impact of legislation on different sectors, such as the economy, environment, and society. This can help lawmakers create legislation that is well-informed and addresses the needs of all stakeholders
  • AI can also be used to draft legislation. AI-powered tools can help lawmakers create legislation that is clear, concise, and free of errors. These tools can also ensure that legislation complies with legal principles, such as due process and equal protection.
  • AI tools can also help lawmakers identify potential conflicts and ambiguities in legislation and suggest revisions to address these issues. 
  • AI can also be used to review legislation and identify potential issues, such as conflicting provisions or redundant clauses. 
  • AI can also be used to increase public participation in the lawmaking process. AI-powered tools can provide greater access to information about legislation and its implications. This can help increase public awareness of the legislation and encourage public feedback and participation.
  • It can also help in flagging laws that are outdated in the present circumstances and which require amendment. 
    • For example, ‘The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897’ failed to address the COVID-19 pandemic situation during its peak  due to its outdated policies.

Global Scenario:

  • Many Parliaments across the world are now actively experimenting with AI-powered assistants. The House of Representatives in the United States has introduced an AI tool to automate the process of analysing differences between Bills, amendments and current laws. 
  • The Netherlands House of Representatives, for instance, has implemented the “Speech2Write” system which converts voice to text and also “translates” voice into written reports. 
  • Japan’s AI tool assists in the preparation of responses for its legislature and also helps in the automatic selection of relevant highlights in parliamentary debates. 
  • Brazil has developed an AI system called Ulysses which supports transparency and citizen participation. 

Recommendations for Using AI in Legislation:

  • India must codify its law for effective use of AI in legislation as there is a huge translation gap between law-making, law-implementing and law-interpreting organisations. 
  • India Code portal which contains all the Central legislations cannot be entirely relied upon as a ‘single source of truth’. 
  • The interface should contain a complete chain, right from the parent Act to the subordinate pieces of legislation passed by the union government and the amendment notifications, enabling any entity to get a 360° view. 
    • Such a requirement becomes more critical in special situations such as COVID-19. For example, in measures related to COVID-19, the central government issued over 900 notifications while State governments issued over 6,000 notifications on the subject.
  • One of the most critical recommendations is to ensure that AI is used in a way that is compatible with the values and principles of democracy. The use of AI should not compromise the principles of accountability, transparency, and public participation.
  • Collaboration among stakeholders is also crucial for the effective use of AI in legislation. The use of AI should not be limited to lawmakers but should also involve other stakeholders, such as civil society organisations and the public. This can help ensure that the legislation reflects the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.
  • It is also essential to ensure that the use of AI in legislation is accompanied by appropriate legal frameworks and ethical standards. This can help ensure that the use of AI is fair, transparent, and accountable.

Nut Graf:  AI has the potential to revolutionise the legislative process in India. The use of AI can create better, more efficient, and smarter legislation that can help address the challenges that the country faces. AI can streamline the legislative process, improve the quality of legislation, and increase transparency and public participation.

F. Prelims Facts

1. International Prize in Statistics

Syllabus: Miscellaneous

Prelims: About the International Prize in Statistics 2023

Context

Calyampudi Radhakrishna Rao (C.R. Rao), an Indian-American statistician has been awarded the International Prize in Statistics for the year 2023.

International Prize in Statistics

  • The International Prize in Statistics is the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for Statistics.
  • The International Prize is awarded to an individual or a team to recognise their achievements using statistics to advance science, technology and human welfare.
    • The award recognizes a single work or body of work, representing a powerful and original idea that had an impact on other disciplines or a practical effect on the world. 
  • The prize is awarded biennially i.e. once every two years at the International Statistical Institute (ISI) World Statistics Congress.
    • The International Prize was first awarded in 2016.
  • The award is managed by a foundation that consists of representatives of the five major statistical organisations namely the American Statistical Association, the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, the International Biometric Society, the International Statistical Institute, and the Royal Statistical Society.
  • The key goal of the award is to enhance public understanding of the depth and scope of statistics.
  • Furthermore, the recipient must be alive when the prize is awarded.
  • Eminent Statistician C.R. Rao has been Awarded the 2023 International Prize in Statistics.
    • The award recognises the monumental work by C.R. Rao that revolutionised statistical thinking and still continues to influence human understanding across a wide spectrum of scientific disciplines.
    • C R Rao’s 1945 paper published in the Bulletin of the Calcutta Mathematical Society, demonstrated three fundamental results that paved the way for the modern field of statistics and provided statistical tools heavily used in science.

G. Tidbits

1. India to bridge language gap with neighbours

  • With an aim to expand its cultural footprint in other nations, especially those in its immediate neighbourhood, India is looking to create a pool of experts in languages spoken in countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
    • The move is expected to facilitate better people-to-people exchanges.
  • The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has come up with a special project titled “The Language Friendship Bridge”, which envisages to train five to 10 people in the official languages of each of these countries.
  • The ICCR has so far finalised 10 languages for the project which include Kazakh, Uzbek, Bhutanese, Ghoti (Tibet), Burmese, Khmer (Cambodia), Thai, Sinhalese and Bahasa (Indonesia and Malaysia).
  • In India, the focus has mainly been on learning languages such as Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese. However, considering the cultural linkages between India and a few countries, India cannot afford to ignore countries like  Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Indonesia.
    • India has so far relied on translators, interpreters and teachers in the languages of these countries with which it shares a cultural history.
  • The ICCR is discussing the future of the project with various universities such as Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Hyderabad’s English and Foreign Languages University, Banaras Hindu University, etc.
  • There are two possibilities for the project:
    • To have tie-ups with the teachers from these countries to come and teach courses in India. 
    • Offering scholarships to Indian students to go and study these languages in those countries.
  • Experts have welcomed the move and believe that the ICCR’s list of languages must be expanded as a large number of people are visiting India from countries such as Turkey, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Maldives.

2. Centre plans revamp of livestock insurance scheme to raise coverage

  • The Union Government is looking to formulate a comprehensive livestock insurance scheme modelled on the Prime Minister’s Fasal Bima Yojana which would replace the existing Livestock Insurance Scheme.
    • The Livestock Insurance Scheme is functional in about 100 districts of the country. 
    • It is a Centrally sponsored scheme that is managed by the respective State Livestock Development Boards.
  • The initial proposals for the scheme include waiving off premiums for cattle rearers from SC and ST communities. 
  • Currently, in India, less than 1% of the country’s cattle is insured and the average yearly premium is 4.5% of the insured amount.
    • According to experts, high premium rate and overall economic conditions of farmers are the key reasons for lower enrolment in such schemes.
    • The Animal Husbandry Ministry has held meetings with various insurance companies to reduce the premium to increase the farmers enrollmets in the scheme.
  • Farmers’ organisations have also been demanding comprehensive livestock and crop insurance in the wake of the lumpy skin disease pandemic which led to the death of over two lakh cattle.

For more information on “Lumpy skin disease”, refer to the following article:

UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis dated 06 Apr 2023

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements: (Level – Moderate)
  1. The national tiger census is conducted once every four years.
  2. It is conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in association with state forest departments and the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI).
  3. The focus of the international big cat alliance will be on the conservation of the world’s seven major big cats

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, The national tiger census is conducted once every four years.
  • Statement 2 is not correct,  The Survey is conducted by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) in association with state forest departments and the Wildlife Institute of India.
  • Statement 3 is correct, The International Big Cat Alliance focuses mainly on the protection of seven major big cats of the world namely Lions, Tigers, Cheetahs, Jaguars, Leopards, Snow Leopards, and Pumas.
Q2. Which among the following statements is the best description of 'Good Friday 
Agreement'? (Level – Easy)
  1. A political deal designed to end violence and bring peace to Northern Ireland.
  2. A series of peace agreements between Israel and several Arab countries
  3. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia signing an agreement to end military conflict over the disputed enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh
  4. Formal peace talks between Greece, Turkey and Britain to bring an end to Cyprus problem
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • The Good Friday Agreement, also known as the Belfast Agreement, is a political deal signed in 1998 designed to bring an end to 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland, known as “the Troubles”.
    • Northern Ireland was created in 1921 and remained part of the UK when the rest of Ireland became an independent state.
    • This created a split in the population between unionists, who wish to see Northern Ireland stay within the UK, and nationalists, who want it to become part of the Republic of Ireland.
  • The Good Friday Agreement is based on the idea of cooperation between communities.
Q3. Consider the following pairs: (Level – Difficult)

          Article                  Special provisions for States

  1. 371-A                   Nagaland
  2. 371-B                   Manipur
  3. 371-F                    Sikkim
  4. 371-J                    Karnataka

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

  1. Only one pair
  2. Only two pairs
  3. Only three pairs
  4. All four pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Pair 1 is correct, Article 371-A provides for the special provisions for Nagaland
  • Pair 2 is not correct, Under Article 371-B, the President is empowered to provide for the creation of a committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly consisting of the members elected from the Tribal Areas of the state and such other embers as he may specify
  • Pair 3 is correct, The 36th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1975 made Sikkim a full-fledged state of the Indian Union. It included a new Article 371-F containing special provisions with respect to Sikkim.
  • Pair 4 is correct, Article 371-J was inserted through the 98th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2012 and it empowers the President to provide that the Governor of Karnataka would have a few special responsibilities.
Q4. With respect to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India, which of 
the following statements is/are correct? (Level – Difficult)
  1. The PVTGs in India were first identified by the Dhebar Commission.
  2. Chattisgarh has the highest number of PVTGs in India
  3. Birhor, Lodhas and Totos are PVTGs from the State of West Bengal

Options:

  1. 1 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 2 and 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, In 1973, the Dhebar Commission created Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs) as a separate category, who are less developed among the tribal groups.
    • In 2006, the Union Government renamed it as Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs).
  • Statement 2 is not correct, Odisha has the highest number of PVTGs in India
  • Statement 3 is correct, In West Bengal, three tribes namely Lodha, Birhor and Toto have been declared as PVTGs
Q5. Who among the following Gandhi followers was a teacher by Profession? 
(Level – Moderate) [PYQ- 2008]
  1. A.N. Sinha
  2. Braj Kishore Prasad
  3. J.B. Kriplani
  4. Rajendra Prasad
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • Following his education at Fergusson College in Pune, Jivatram Bhagwandas Kripalani, worked as a schoolteacher before joining the freedom movement following Gandhi’s return from South Africa. 
  • He was a professor of English and History.
  • From 1920 to 1927, he worked as the principal of Gujarat Vidyapeeth which was an educational institution set up by Gandhi. There, he earned the epithet “Acharya”.
  • In November 1946, he was elected the President of the Congress Party and steered the party in that position during the crucial partition period and the transfer of power.
  • Kripalani was the first person to introduce a no-confidence motion on the floor of the House. This was in 1963 immediately after the Sino-Indian War.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. What is the Second Space Age? How can India harness the potentialities of this age? (150 words, 10 marks) [GS-3; Science and Technology]
  2. How can AI and Machine learning produce better and smarter legislation? (150 words, 10 marks) [GS-3; Science and Technology]

Read the previous CNA here.

CNA 10 April 2023:- Download PDF Here

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