CNA 14 April 2023:- Download PDF Here
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related POLITY 1. The rules for recognition as a national party C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials INDIAN SOCIETY 1. Dalits as a social and political force SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Regulating Artificial Intelligence F. Prelims Facts 1. Bioluminescence 2. Dabba Trading 3. cVIGIL App G. Tidbits 1. World Food Programme: India to send wheat to Afghanistan 2. Marker of democracy made in Mysuru: unit from royal era turns out indelible ink H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
1. The rules for recognition as a national party
Syllabus: Salient features of the Representation of People’s Act.
Prelims: About National and State parties
Mains: Criteria for being recognized as a “National or State” party and the benefits of the status
Context
- On April 10th, 2023, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was accorded the status of a national party by the the Election Commission of India (ECI).
- However, other parties such as the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Communist Party of India (CPI), and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have lost their national party status.
- The ECI also revoked the recognition of some parties as State parties.
What is a national party?
- A national party refers to such a political party that has a presence “nationally”, whereas the presence of regional parties is limited to a particular state or region.
- National parties are usually India’s bigger parties, such as the Congress and BJP and a certain stature is associated with being a national party.
- According to the Representation of People Act 1951, registered political parties can get recognition as “State” or “National” parties in the due course of time.
- At present, there are six parties in India with the status of a “national party” including the BJP, Congress, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), CPI(M), National People’s Party (NPP) and the AAP.
Criteria to be recognised as a “national party”
- The ECI reviews the performance of recognised parties after every State Assembly election and general election to the Lok Sabha in order to accord the status of “State Party” or “National Party”.
- The rules for recognition as a national party are specified by the ECI in para 6B of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968.
- According to the order, a registered party will be eligible to be accorded national status if it manages to:
- Be recognised as a “State party” in four or more States; or
- Secure at least 6% of the total votes polled in any four States in the last Lok Sabha or Assembly elections, and in addition, has a minimum of four of its members elected to the Lok Sabha; or
- Wins at least 2% of seats in the Lok Sabha from not less than three States.
- The Symbols Order of 1968 was amended in 2016 to give parties one additional “pass over”.
- According to the amendment, which is in force since January 1, 2014, if a national or State party fails to meet the eligibility rules in the next general elections (i.e. 2014 Lok Sabha polls) or the Assembly election after the election in which it was recognised, the party shall remain to be recognised as a national or State party, i.e. it will not be stripped of its status.
- However, whether it will continue to be recognised after any subsequent election would again have to be determined by the eligibility criteria.
For more information on this topic watch the following video on our YouTube channel:
Criteria to be recognised as a “State party”
- A party has to secure at least 6% of the valid votes polled and two seats in Assembly polls or one in Lok Sabha polls; or
- At a General Election or Legislative Assembly election, the party must have won at least 3% of the seats in the legislative assembly of the State (subject to a minimum of 3 seats); or
- At a Lok Sabha General Elections, the party must have won at least one Lok Sabha seat for every 25 Lok Sabha seats allotted for the State; or
- At a General Election to the Lok Sabha or the Legislative Assembly, the party must have at least 8% of the total valid votes polled.
Key benefits being recognised as national and state parties
- Reserved political symbols: Such parties are entitled to exclusive allotment of their reserved symbol to their candidates throughout India or the respective states.
- National Presence: A recognised national party can contest elections across the country which helps expand its influence.
- Extra perks and privileges: A recognised political party enjoys privileges such as free broadcast time on State-run television and radio such as Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR).
- Lenient proposer and electoral roll conditions: Recognised State and National parties need only one proposer for filing the nomination and are also entitled to two sets of electoral rolls free of cost at the time of revision of rolls.
- Such parties can also give their inputs on setting electoral rules and regulations.
- More “Star Campaigners”: A National or State party can have a maximum of 40 “Star campaigners” whereas an unrecognised registered party can only nominate a maximum of 20 “Star Campaigners”.
- The expenses of star campaigners are not included in the party’s overall costs of organising an election campaign.
- Grant of government land: A national party would get land from the government to build its headquarters.
Read more – Political Parties in India
Nut graf: With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) being recognised as a national party by the ECI and parties like the TMC, NCP and CPI having lost their national party status, India at present has six political parties with the status of “National Party”.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. Dalits as a social and political force
Syllabus: Salient features of Indian Society
Mains: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Vision for Social Justice
Context: Dr Ambedkar’s birth anniversary is celebrated across the world on April 14.
Introduction:
- Dalits are a historically oppressed and marginalized community in India. They belong to the lowest rung of the caste system and have faced discrimination and exclusion for centuries.
- However, in recent years, Dalits have emerged as a significant social and political force in India, demanding equal rights and opportunities and challenging the status quo, mainly due to modern liberal ideas, capitalist development, and democratic processes.
- However, the vision of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a leader who fought for the rights of Dalits, to elevate them as an independent religious community or the dominating political force in the democratic battles has not been realized yet.
- The present day’s adoption of neoliberal economic policies undermines social justice safeguards meant for the emancipation of historically marginalized communities.
Ambedkar’s Vision for Social Justice:
- Ambedkar’s vision for social justice was to elevate Dalits as an independent religious community and to improve their lot as the dominating political force in democratic battles.
- Ambedkar acknowledged that under colonial rule, modern institutions had become accessible to several marginalized social groups, enabling them to participate in democratic processes.
- Ambedkar believed that job reservation or ensuring Dalit representation in legislative bodies would lead to the substantial democratization of political power and enable Dalits to become influential stakeholders in modern institutions.
- He also envisioned non-political public spaces such as educational institutions, media, culture, and art industries to be democratized, allowing Dalits to play an effective role as entitled citizens.
- He advocated for modernity not just to uplift the untouchables as a special category dependent on perpetual state assistance, but to create a society where all individuals could thrive independently.
- Ambedkar imagined Dalits to be the natural leaders of historically deprived groups. He hoped that the state would take effective measures to cultivate a sensitive public culture and punish offenders who practised caste or community-based discrimination.
- His vision for social justice was to create a society where people of all castes and communities could live in harmony, without discrimination or exploitation.
Dalit Assertion:
- Post-Independence, Dalit assertion aimed to bring about social and political change and end the social exclusion and marginalization of Dalits.
- One of the key drivers of Dalit assertion was the Indian Constitution, which provided for affirmative action and reserved seats in government jobs and educational institutions for Dalits and other marginalized communities.
- This policy of reservation helped to increase Dalit representation in government, administration, and other fields, giving them greater visibility and a stronger voice in the decision-making process.
- One of the most significant factors that have contributed to the rise of Dalit activism is the growth of the Dalit middle class.
- Education and economic empowerment have enabled many Dalits to break out of their traditional occupations and enter new fields. This has given them greater visibility and influence in society and politics.
- In addition to political representation, the Dalit assertion also took the form of cultural and social movements, which sought to challenge the dominant caste-based norms and hierarchies and create a more inclusive and equal society.
- These movements focused on issues such as land reform, access to education and healthcare, and the eradication of caste-based discrimination and violence.
- However, according to the author of this editorial, various sections within the Dalits have not shown sincere attachment to the social justice movement and remained hegemonized by conventional cultural values, even drifting towards political options considered antithetical to the politics of Dalit emancipation.
- In electoral battles, Dalits have witnessed growing marginalization, with the periodic decline of the Dalit-based political parties as commendable mainstream parties.
Post-Ambedkar Dalit activism:
- Post-Ambedkar Dalit activism has taken a range of forms and has been influenced by various social, political, and economic factors.
- However, the overarching goal of Dalit activism has remained the same: to fight against caste-based oppression and discrimination and to secure equal rights and opportunities for all Dalits in India.
- The traditional hierarchies based on class and caste have seen little reform, and the increasing incidents of caste-based violence, oppression, and attacks have left Dalits feeling discouraged about the prospects of achieving social liberation.
- Additionally, there exists a marginalization of Dalit representation in modern institutions such as universities, the judiciary, media, and cultural industries.
- A reassessment is required to construct a widespread Dalit program that rallies the disadvantaged and marginalized groups towards a more comprehensive liberation effort.
Nut Graf: Dalits have emerged as a significant social and political force in recent years. However, B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of their elevation as an independent religious community or a dominating political force has not been realized yet. Despite the policies of affirmative action and reservation, Dalits continue to face discrimination and violence.
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Regulating Artificial Intelligence
Syllabus: Awareness in Different Fields – IT & Computers
Mains: India’s approach towards development and use of AI
Context: This article discusses India’s approach to deal with the growth of Artificial Intelligence.
Introduction:
- The regulatory system in India is still evolving and catching up with the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
- While there are existing laws and regulations in India that govern aspects of AI, such as data protection, privacy, and intellectual property, there is no specific legislation or framework that comprehensively addresses AI.
Concerns of AI:
- India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and has been actively exploring the use of AI in various industries. However, there are also concerns about the economic and privacy implications of AI in India.
- Economic Implications:
- AI can automate many jobs and lead to job displacement, particularly in industries such as manufacturing, retail, and customer service.
- The widespread adoption of AI may require a significant skill upgradation of the workforce to ensure that they are equipped to work with AI-enabled systems and technologies.
- The adoption of AI could exacerbate existing economic inequalities, with some segments of society benefiting more than others.
- Privacy Implications:
- The use of AI requires access to large amounts of data, and there are concerns about how this data is collected, stored, and used.
- The use of AI for surveillance purposes, such as facial recognition technology, raises concerns about privacy violations.
- AI algorithms can be biased, leading to discrimination against certain groups of people. This could have serious implications for privacy and human rights.
India Vs China:
- India and China have taken different approaches to the development and use of AI. While China has been criticized for its authoritarian use of AI, including the use of facial recognition and other surveillance technologies to monitor its citizens, India has taken a more cautious approach to the development and deployment of AI.
- One of the main reasons for India’s cautious approach is its commitment to protecting the privacy and civil liberties of its citizens.
- India has taken steps to ensure that AI technologies are developed and used in a responsible and ethical manner, including the development of the Personal Data Protection Bill.
- Additionally, India has also been focused on developing AI technologies that are tailored to its unique needs and challenges, including developing AI systems to address issues such as traffic congestion, agricultural productivity, and healthcare access.
- In 2018, the Indian government released the National AI Strategy, which aims to leverage AI for economic growth and social development.
- The strategy focuses on five key areas: healthcare, agriculture, education, smart cities and infrastructure, and smart mobility and transportation.
- In contrast, China has been criticized for using AI to monitor and control its citizens, with reports of facial recognition technology being used to track and detain ethnic minorities and social credit systems being used to reward or punish citizens based on their behaviour.
Way Forward:
- As AI becomes increasingly prevalent in India, there is a growing need for better regulations to address the privacy and competition threats that come with it.
- India could adopt stricter privacy regulations to protect the personal data of individuals from being collected, analyzed, and shared without their consent.
- The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 is one such example of a privacy regulation that has been proposed in India. It aims to ensure that individuals have greater control over their personal data and that companies are held accountable for any misuse or mishandling of that data.
- Ethical guidelines for AI would help guide the development and use of AI technologies in a responsible and ethical manner. They would help ensure that AI systems are transparent, unbiased, and do not perpetuate discrimination or harm to individuals or communities.
- To address these concerns, the Indian government has proposed the creation of a National AI Strategy that includes guidelines for the ethical development and deployment of AI.
- The adoption of stronger competition regulations could prevent large companies from using AI to gain unfair advantages over smaller competitors.
- This could include measures such as mandating data sharing, ensuring interoperability, and prohibiting anti-competitive practices that could limit market competition.
- More investment in research and development to develop new AI technologies that are designed with privacy and ethical considerations should be promoted.
F. Prelims Facts
Syllabus: GS-3; Science and Technology
Prelims: About Bioluminescence
Context
A stretch of the beach at Bheemili near Visakhapatnam glows due to bioluminescence.
Bioluminescence
Image Source: National Maritime Foundation
- Bioluminescence occurs mainly due to the presence of single-celled organisms called dinoflagellates that produce light when disturbed.
- Various other marine species such as sponges, jellyfish, worms, species of fish, arthropods, echinoderms and unicellular alga also exhibit bioluminescence.
- Bioluminescence is a type of chemiluminescence, i.e. it involves a chemical reaction which produces light.
- Such chemical reactions involve two unique chemicals namely luciferin and luciferase.
- Luciferin is the compound that produces light and it acts as the substrate.
- Luciferase is an enzyme or a catalyst that interacts with a substrate to affect the rate of a chemical reaction.
- Photoprotein can also act as a catalyst in such reactions.
- The phenomenon of bioluminescence on beaches is seen to be a natural phenomenon.
- Bioluminescence is a “cold light”.
- Cold light means less than 20% of the light generates thermal radiation or heat.
- In the case of Visakhapatnam, bioluminescence is said to be a result of an algal bloom of the dinoflagellate species of noctiluca and ceratium.
- Bioluminescence has been witnessed on some other beaches in India including Havelock Island in the Andamans, Thiruvanmiyur Beach in Chennai, Mattu Beach in Karnataka, Bangaram Island in Lakshadweep and Kerala’s Kumbalangi.
- Bioluminescence may not be harmful to humans but it can have significant implications on the marine ecosystem as phytoplanktons are consumed by fish and the harmful algal blooms have led to mass mortality of fish species in the past.
- Further, the rapid algal growth of noctiluca is attributed to environmental changes such as sudden low salinity or disturbance by pollutants.
Syllabus: GS-3; Economy; Issues relating to planning and mobilization of resources
Prelims: About Dabba Trading
Context
Recently, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) issued notices to entities involved in “dabba trading”.
Dabba Trading
- Dabba trading refers to informal trading taking place outside the purview of the stock exchanges.
- Dabba means box and a parallel stock market.
- Dabba trading is an illegal form of trading, wherein traders bet on stock price movements without incurring a real transaction to take physical ownership of a particular stock as is done in exchange.
- Dabba trading is gambling centred around stock price movements.
- As such trading remains outside the purview of the regulatory mechanism, transactions are made using cash and operated using unrecognised software terminals.
- Kaccha (rough) records, sauda (transaction) books, challans, DD receipts, cash receipts, bills/contract notes are also used as proof of trading.
- Dabba trading helps traders escape taxation as there are no proper records of income or gain.
- Traders also escape paying the Commodity Transaction Tax (CTT) and the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on their transactions.
- Therefore dabba trading results in a loss to the government exchequer.
- Also since it is outside the purview of the regulatory mechanism, there are no formal provisions for investor protection, dispute resolution mechanisms and grievance redressal mechanisms.
- Dabba trading could encourage the growth of black money, perpetuate a parallel economy, and also promote money laundering and criminal activities.
- Thus dabba trading is recognised as an offence under Section 23(1) of the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act (SCRA), 1956
- Upon conviction, individuals can be sentenced to imprisonment for a term of up to 10 years or a fine of up to ₹25 crores, or both.
3. cVIGIL App
Syllabus: GS-2; Polity; Election Commission of India
Prelims: Facts about cVIGIL App
Context
Over two thousand complaints have been received through the cVIGIL mobile application so far as the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in place in Karnataka.
cVIGIL App
Image Source: The Election Commission of India
- The cVIGIL App facilitates citizens to report MCC violations such as bribery, gifts, liquor distribution, and use of loudspeakers beyond the permissible time during the elections.
- cVIGIL App has been designed and developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
- The cVIGIL App was used for the first time during the five states’ Assembly General elections between October to December 2018.
- In cVIGIL, citizens by using a simple mobile app can capture live photos and videos.
- The app also facilitates citizens to raise complaints anonymously, without revealing their identity.
- Further, every cVIGIL case is acted upon and replied back with the action taken in the 100-minute timeline. This “100-minute” rule has made the app reliable.
- cVIGIL Investigator app has been developed for the field units such as Flying Squads & Static Surveillance Team to investigate the cVIGIL cases and conduct Suo-Moto reporting.
- Also, cVIGIL Monitor App provides access to all cases filed in the jurisdiction to Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) and ECI Officials.
G. Tidbits
1. World Food Programme: India to send wheat to Afghanistan
- India has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the World Food Programme (WFP) for sending 10,000 tonnes of wheat to the people of Afghanistan.
- The signing ceremony between officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and the United Nations WFP was held in Mumbai and the WFP has promised speedy delivery of wheat to the most vulnerable sections of the Afghan population.
- The fifth tranche, which will be shipped through the Chabahar port of Iran, builds upon assistance already delivered to those in need by the WFP in Afghanistan.
- India had committed at the India Central Asia Joint Working Group on Afghanistan to send 20,000 MT of wheat through the Iranian port of Chabahar.
- This commitment by India indicated that India would not send humanitarian assistance such as food and medicines to Afghanistan through the transit route over Pakistan.
- According to WFP, nine out of 10 Afghan families could not afford enough food and about 20 million Afghans are facing the threat of starvation with six million of them being one step away from famine.
- India has not recognised the Taliban government in Kabul which took charge in August 2021, but India has continued to send humanitarian goods to the vulnerable people of the country.
2. Marker of democracy made in Mysuru: unit from royal era turns out indelible ink
- All the elections taking place in India have a link with Mysuru, (which is renowned as the city of palaces in Karnataka) as Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd. is the only company authorised to produce the indelible ink used in general elections in the country.
- Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd. was set up in 1937 by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar, the then Maharaja of Mysore.
- Mysore Paints & Varnish Ltd. became a public limited company in 1947.
- In 1962, the Election Commission in collaboration with the Law Ministry, the National Physical Laboratory of India and the National Research Development Corporation made an agreement with Mysore Paints and Varnish Ltd. to manufacture ink that couldn’t be wiped off easily.
- Since then, the company has supplied indelible ink for every Lok Sabha, Assembly and local body election across India.
- Furthermore, the company has also exported the ink to over 30 countries.
- The company also manufactures lac used for sealing waxes and paints.
- The indelible ink is made of chemicals formulated in a laboratory and the entire process of its mixing, bottling, sealing, packing and transportation takes place in a secured area.
- It is known to contain silver nitrate and remains bright for about 10 days, after which it starts fading.
- Each vial consists of 10 ml of ink and will be able to cover about 700 voters.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Which of the following statements is/are correct with respect to GN-z11? (Level – Difficult)
- It is a high-redshift galaxy found in the constellation Ursa Major.
- It is a Spiral galaxy and compared with the Milky Way galaxy, GN-z11 is 1/25 of the size, and has 1% of the mass.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, GN-z11 is a high-redshift galaxy found in the constellation Ursa Major and was one of the farthest known galaxies from Earth ever discovered.
- Statement 2 is not correct, GN-z11 is not a Spiral galaxy, it is an irregular type of galaxy.
- Compared with the Milky Way galaxy, GN-z11 is 1/25 of the size, has 1% of the mass, and is forming new stars approximately twenty times as fast.
Q2. Consider the following pairs: (Level – Difficult)
Exercise Hosted by
- Orion France
- Cobra Gold Vietnam
- Milan Japan
- RIMPAC United States
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- Only one pair
- Only two pairs
- Only three pairs
- All four pairs
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
- Pair 1 is correct, Orion is one of the largest multinational exercises being carried out by the French defence forces.
- Pair 2 is not correct, Cobra Gold is an annual Asia-Pacific military exercise and the largest Asia-Pacific military exercise hosted by Thailand.
- Pair 3 is not correct, MILAN is a biennial multilateral naval exercise incepted by the Indian Navy in 1995 at Andaman and Nicobar Command.
- Pair 4 is correct, The Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise which is hosted by the U.S.
Q3. With respect to Listeriosis, which of the following statements is/are correct? (Level – Moderate)
- It is a bacterial infection caused by consuming foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.
- It is a serious infection and can be life-threatening for older adults, pregnant women and their newborns.
- Listeriosis is characterised by fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.
Options:
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Listeriosis is a serious bacterial infection caused by the Listeria monocytogenes.
- Statement 2 is correct, The disease mainly affects pregnant women, newborns, older adults, and other people with weak immune systems.
- Statement 3 is correct, Symptoms of Listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions.
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Rashtriya Gokul Mission: (Level – Moderate)
- Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds and genetic upgradation of the bovine population.
- This mission was launched under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development during the 12th Five-Year Plan.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
- Statement 1 is correct, Since December 2014, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing the Rashtriya Gokul Mission for the development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds and genetic upgradation of the bovine population.
- Statement 2 is correct, Rashtriya Gokul Mission was launched under the National Programme for Bovine Breeding and Dairy Development during the 12th Five-Year Plan.
Q5. What does Baudhayan theorem (Baudhayan Sulva Sutra) relate to? (Level – Easy) [PYQ - 2008]
- Lengths of sides of a right-angled triangle
- Calculation of the value of pi
- Logarithmic calculations
- Normal distribution curve
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
- Baudhayan Sulva Sutra of 1000 BC is today known as the Pythagorean theorem, which states that in a right-angled triangle, the square of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides.
- According to Baudhayan theorem, in a Deerghchatursh (triangle), the chetra (square) of rajju (hypotenuse) is equal to the sum of squares of the parshvamani (base) and triyangmani (perpendicular line).
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Illustrate the stellar role of Dr.Ambedkar in socially uplifting the marginalised classes. Has the dream of Ambedkar been fully realized? Critically examine. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS-2, Social Justice]
- The rise of AI, especially generative AI, has raised a number of economic, ethical & policy concerns. Elucidate. (250 words, 15 marks) [GS-3, Science & Technology]
Read the previous CNA here.
CNA 14 April 2023:- Download PDF Here
Comments