04 Jan 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

CNA 04 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. On the legality of Israel’s occupation
GOVERNANCE
1. How is India moving to regulate online gaming?
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
ENVIRONMENT
1. Preventing animal cruelty is a duty of the state
INDIAN CONSTITUTION AND POLITY
1. A late but right call by Kerala Governor
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. No need for extra curbs on free speech of Ministers: SC
2. Not all religious conversions are illegal: Supreme Court
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. How is India moving to regulate online gaming?

Syllabus: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation

Mains: Regulating online gaming in India

Context

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has come up with draft amendments to regulate online gaming.

Details

  • The MeitY has recently released draft amendments to the IT (Intermediary Guidelines & Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021, pertaining to Online Gaming for public consultations.
  • The main objective of the amendments is to make sure that the online games are in conformity with Indian legislation and to protect users against potential harm.Β 

For detailed background information β€œon online gaming in India” refer to the following article:

Sansad TV Perspective: Regulating Online Gaming Industry

Proposed amendments

  • The proposals include provisions to protect the interests of users by establishing set procedures and norms for verification and user engagement.Β 
  • The draft proposal further defines what constitutes an β€œonline game”.Β 
    • According to this, an online game is β€œa game that is offered on the internet and is accessible by a user through a computer resource if he makes a deposit with the expectation of earning winnings”.Β 
    • β€œWinning” here accounts for any prize such as in cash or kind, which is given to a participant based on his/her performance in accordance with the rules of such online games.
  • The draft proposals aim to address the debate in the sector about the definitions of a β€œgame of skill” and a β€œgame of chance”.Β 
  • The draft amendments also endeavour to ensure greater transparency.Β 
  • As per the proposals, the game operators would be mandated to verify users on the platform and also inform users about the terms of services, the policies related to withdrawal or refund of their financial deposit, measures taken for the protection, and the potential risk of financial loss and addiction.
  • Further, the issue of addiction must be addressed by using repeated warning messages, if in case a user exceeds a prescribed amount of time playing an online game.
  • Additionally, the online gaming platforms would be required to:
    • Set up a self-regulatory body that verifies the game before hosting it
    • Carry a registration mark on all its recognised online games
    • Appointment of a Chief Compliance Officer, who shall coordinate with the law enforcement agencies of the country and ensure compliance
    • Put in place a grievances resolution mechanism

Industry’s response

  • Industry experts have appreciated the government’s move to regulate online gaming.Β 
  • Experts opine that the move will help tackle the issues of anti-national and illegal offshore gambling platforms.
  • Further, a uniform framework set up by the government will increase investor confidence and attract investments into the sector.

Key concerns associated with the proposals

  • A few experts feel that the amendment Rules still consider all gaming intermediaries under a broad category without recognising their size or risk.
  • Further, all gaming intermediaries are mandated similar compliances such as mandating them to have India-based officers. This could discourage top global players to start their services in the country.

Nut graf: Recognising the rapid growth of the online gaming industry and the important role played by the industry in the Indian economy, the MeitY has come up with the draft amendments to the IT intermediary rules 2021 which ensure that online games are offered in conformity with Indian laws.

2. Not all religious conversions are illegal: Supreme Court

  • The Supreme Court has held that all religious conversions cannot be presumed to be illegal.
  • The provision under question was Section 10 of the Madhya Pradesh (Freedom of Religion) Act, 2021.Β 
    • According to the provisions of Section 10(1) and (2) of the Act, the person who intends to convert and a priest/person who organises the conversion are mandated to provide a two-month prior declaration to the District Magistrate that the proposed conversion is not motivated by force, undue influence, coercion or allurement.
    • A High Court’s decision had frozen this mandatory provision.
  • Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta appearing for Madhya Pradesh said that Section 10 of the 2021 Act was on the same subject matter as Section 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Dharma Swatantrya Adhiniyam of 1968, which was upheld by a Constitution Bench in a judgment in Rev. Stanislaus v/s. State of Madhya Pradesh in 1977.
  • In the 1977 judgement the Court had held that the word β€œpropagate” in Article 25 of the Constitution did not provide the right to convert another person to their own religion, but to spread one’s religion by an exposition of its tenets.
  • The Constitution Bench had also added that the right to freedom of religion was not guaranteed in respect of one religion only, but covered all religions alike.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements about the Delimitation Commission:
  1. Both the Centre and the States can set it up for the division of constituencies at national and state levels respectively.
  2. It works under the administrative control of the Election Commission.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

  1. 1 onlyΒ 
  2. 2 onlyΒ 
  3. Both 1 and 2​
  4. Neither 1 nor 2​
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, The Delimitation commission is set up by the Government of India (Union government) under the provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act.
    • The Parliament has enacted delimitation Acts in 1952, 1963, 1973 and 2002 providing for the appointment of the Delimitation Commission.
  • Statement 2 is not correct, The Delimitation Commission works in collaboration with the Election Commission of India.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
  1. Indian Science Congress held its 108th session in 2023.
  2. The session focussed on β€œScience & Technology for Sustainable Development & Women Empowerment”.
  3. India was placed in the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index 2022 published by WEF.

Which of the above are correct statements?

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, 108th Indian Science Congress (ISC) will be held from the 3rd to the 7th of January 2023.Β 
  • Statement 2 is correct, The focal theme of the 108th ISC is β€œScience and Technology for Sustainable Development with Women Empowerment”.
  • Statement 3 is not correct, India moved to the 40th position in the Global Innovation Index in 2022.
    • The Global Innovation Index (GII) is published by INSEAD, Cornell University, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).Β 
Q3. Arrange the following states in the decreasing order of availability of Bauxite:
  1. Andhra Pradesh
  2. Odisha
  3. Jharkhand
  4. Gujarat

Options:

  1. 2-3-1-4
  2. 3-2-1-4
  3. 2-1-4-3
  4. 1-3-2-4
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

  • The ranking of Indian states based on the availability of Bauxite, as per the Indian Minerals’ Yearbook,Β 
    • Odisha (51%)Β 
    • Andhra Pradesh (16%)Β 
    • Gujarat (9%)Β 
    • Jharkhand (6%)
Q4. Which of the following statements are not correct about the Border Roads Organisation?
  1. It works under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
  2. It constructs the roads in friendly neighbourhood countries on India’s behalf.
  3. It assists in the post-disaster reconstruction of roads in India.

Options:

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

Answer: a

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is not correct, The Border Roads Organisation functions under the control of the Ministry of Defence.
  • Statement 2 is correct, The Border Roads Organisation is also operational and functional in India’s friendly countries like neighbouring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.
  • Statement 3 is correct, The Border Roads Organisation also undertakes reconstruction works in case of a calamity or natural disaster.
Q5. Consider the following statements: (PYQ 2020)
  1. Coal ash contains arsenic, lead, and mercury.
  2. Coal-fired power plants release sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen into the environment.
  3. High ash content is observed in Indian coal.

Which of the above given statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Statement 1 is correct, Coal ash contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium and arsenic.
  • Statement 2 is correct, Coal-fired power plants release oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter (PM), mercury, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous.
  • Statement 3 is correct, Indian coal has comparatively higher ash content due to the drift theory of the formation of coal deposits in India.
    • The ash content of coal produced in the country is generally 25 to 45% whereas the average ash content of imported coal varies from 10 to 20%.

CNA 04 Jan 2023:- Download PDF Here

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