31 July 2023 CNA
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. GS 1 Related B. GS 2 Related INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 1. Two Indian military aircraft visit Australia’s strategic Cocos Islands GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. Rap on the knuckles C. GS 3 Related D. GS 4 Related E. Editorials SOCIAL ISSUES 1. States’ Lax response to lynching SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 1. Hurdles to overcome before becoming ‘Digital India’ F. Prelims Facts 1. What is Sam Altman’s biometric project? G. Tidbits 1. Despite age ratings, film ‘censorship’ continues to stay H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
A. GS 1 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
B. GS 2 Related
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Two Indian military aircraft visit Australia’s strategic Cocos Islands
Syllabus: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting the Indian interests
Mains: India-Australia bilateral relation
Prelims: About India-Australia bilateral relation, Cocos (Keeling) Islands
Context:
Indian Navy and Indian Air Force aircraft visited Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI), signalling enhanced military reach and interoperability with Australia, bolstering surveillance of strategic maritime choke points in the region.
Introduction
- Indian Navy Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and IAF C-130 transport aircraft visited Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI) in the Southern Indian Ocean.
- Diplomatic and official sources confirm the visit, which aimed to expand India’s military reach and enhance interoperability with Australia.
Cocos Islands: A Vital Staging Point
- CKI is seen as an important base for refuelling and operational turnaround for the Indian military, especially after runway expansion to accommodate larger aircraft like the P-8 long-range maritime patrol aircraft.
- The visit of Dornier and C-130 aircraft underscores the strategic significance of CKI.
CKI Elevates as Joint Surveillance Point
- Analysts view the visit as groundbreaking, as it positions CKI as a staging point for joint air surveillance by Australia and India.
- Maritime choke points in Southeast Asia and the eastern Indian Ocean can be effectively monitored from CKI.
Deepening Interoperability between India and Australia
- The visit reflects India’s increasing military-to-military engagements, strengthening interoperability in the region, and particularly with Australia.
- Both countries demonstrate mutual willingness to provide access to their military facilities in the Indian Ocean.
Previous Cooperation and Ongoing Projects
- CKI had already served as a point of cooperation between India and Australia for India’s Gaganyaan human space flight mission.
- Collaboration in space activities has led to discussions on earth observation, satellite navigation, space situational awareness, and weather and climate studies using satellite data.
Challenges and Expansion Plans
- Reports suggest delays in Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) plans to upgrade the CKI runway due to increased costs.
- Proposed expansion includes a 150 m runway extension and additional supporting infrastructure, subject to parliamentary approval.
Enhanced Monitoring of Choke Points
- India’s access to CKI and Christmas Island offers strategic advantages, especially in monitoring movements into the Indian Ocean.
- Monitoring movements of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy in the region is of particular significance.
Nut Graf: Indian Navy and IAF aircraft’s visit to Cocos Islands strengthens strategic ties with Australia, providing a vital staging point for joint air surveillance and monitoring China’s naval movements in the Indian Ocean region.
Category: GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
Syllabus: Government policies and interventions aimed at development of vulnerable sections of the societies.
Mains: Mechanisms, laws, institutions and bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of the vulnerable sections of the society.
Context:
The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the failure of the Union Government and several State governments to address mob violence and lynching against marginalized sections by “cow vigilantes” over the past five years.
Supreme Court’s Concerns
- The Supreme Court expresses disappointment at the Union Government and several State governments for their consistent failure to take action against lynching and mob violence, especially marginalized communities by “cow vigilantes.”
- The National Federation of Indian Women’s petition highlights the government’s inaction in dealing with such incidents.
Court’s Previous Ruling
- In the 2018 case of Tehseen S. Poonawalla vs Union of India, the Supreme Court deemed it the state’s “sacrosanct duty” to protect citizens’ lives and prevent vigilantism of any form.
- The Court issued guidelines, including appointing nodal officers in each district to coordinate efforts against mob violence and lynching with the help of police intelligence and other government agencies.
Continuing Menace
- Despite the Court’s guidelines, lynching, mob violence, and “cow vigilantism” still occur, especially in north India, due to the nonchalance of the Union government and the mentioned States.
- The ideology of certain parties that stereotypes and demonises minorities contributes to the problem.
- Social and economic boycotts of minority communities persist in states with political patronage.
Government Accountability
- The Court’s orders hold the concerned state agencies accountable for the non-implementation of the 2018 judgement’s guidelines.
- However, addressing the menace of mob violence requires concerted civil society action, promoting fraternal relations with other communities, and avoiding typecasting them as the “other.”
- In states like Tamil Nadu, with a history of secular and rational movements, such incidents are rare, and dominant political representatives face civil society outrage if they occur.
The Need for Civil Society Involvement
- Judicial fiat alone is insufficient to prevent atrocities caused by mob violence on ordinary citizens.
- Tackling this issue demands proactive involvement from civil society to sensitise people about peaceful coexistence and respect for other communities.
Nut Graf: The Supreme Court’s recent reminder to the Union Government and several State governments highlights their consistent failure in combating mob violence and lynching against minorities by “cow vigilantes.” Despite previous guidelines, little action has been taken, requiring concerted civil society efforts to tackle the menace effectively.
C. GS 3 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
D. GS 4 Related
Nothing here for today!!!
E. Editorials
1. States’ Lax response to lynching
Syllabus: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
Mains: Mob Lynching and State’s Response
Background
- The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) filed a plea, and the Supreme Court has ordered the Ministry of Home Affairs and the governments of Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana to answer.
- Despite a prior Supreme Court ruling in Tehseen Poonawala v. Union of India in 2018 against vigilantism, the petition criticises their inaction against mob violence and the lynching of Muslims by cow vigilantes over the past five years.
About Tehseen Poonawala’s judgment
- The Supreme Court’s decision, authored by Justice Dipak Misra, stated that it was the State’s sacred duty to defend the lives of its inhabitants.
- The court was required to consider whether the populace of a great Republic like ours had lost the virtues of tolerance to support a diversified culture in light of the rising number of lynching instances, according to the statement.
- The inability of the legal system to stop such crimes in their tracks and the criminals’ tendency to dramatize incidents only make the situation worse.
- According to the court, it is the primary responsibility of the State’s government to prevent vigilantism, whether it be against cows or against anyone else.
- According to the ruling, vigilantes bring about anarchy, turmoil, and disorder as well as the formation of a violent society.
Cases were Highlighted in the NFIW petition
- In Rajasthan, two men named Junaid and Nasir were allegedly lynched and set on fire as they travelled from their home.
- In Bihar’s Saran district, a 56-year-old man is said to have been lynched on the grounds that he was carrying meat.
Remedial directions given by the SC to States
- Remedial directions include the designation of a designated nodal officer with a minimum rank of Superintendent of Police to take action against crimes motivated by prejudice, such as lynching and mob violence.
- The local police must file a FIR right away if they become aware of a lynching or other act of mob violence.
- The Station House Officer who filed the FIR has a responsibility to notify the district’s nodal officer, who in turn must make sure that the victims’ families are not subjected to any additional harassment.
Way Forward
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a separate contempt case against the Centre and the States for failing to follow the Tehseen Poonawala ruling.
The status report should include information on the preventive and corrective measures that the State governments have implemented in response to the 2018 ruling.
In order to discuss the compliance measures mandated by the court in the Tehseen Poonawala verdict, the Ministry of Home Affairs would call a meeting of the department heads of the State governments.
Nut Graf: The NFIW demands an investigation into police indifference, constitutional infractions, and a violation of the victims’ duty of care, as well as prompt interim compensation and a minimum uniform amount for those who have been the victims of such violence.
Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Hurdles to overcome before becoming ‘Digital India’
Syllabus: Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Mains: Challenges associated with becoming Digital India
Background
- In recent years, India’s digital payment system has evolved dramatically. There is a QR code scanner at every neighborhood kirana store right now.
- The amount and number of transactions in this mode have increased since the UPI’s launch in 2016.
- Demonetisation in 2016 and the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 were significant driving forces towards the broad adoption of digital payments, as has been well-documented.
Quick Facts
- In 2014, 53% of people had bank accounts, but by 2017 and 2021, 80% of people had bank accounts, according to the World Bank Global Findex Survey.
- UPI payments climbed at an average monthly rate of 6% from June 2021 to April 2023.
- For NEFT, IMPS, and debit card payments, the comparable percentages were 3%, 3%, and 1.5%, respectively.
- This shows that UPI’s popularity grew more quickly than that of all other payment methods.
Digital India-Financial Inclusion
- It makes sense that the growing use of UPI-based payments would contribute significantly to greater financial inclusion.
- A bank account is necessary as the first step towards financial inclusion. In comparison to all the other nations in the database, India has the largest percentage of inactive accounts worldwide.
- The push for Jan Dhan accounts may have had this effect. Accounts with no balance were created in order to reach set goals but have since been abandoned.
Conclusion
- While there is no variation in the ownership of bank accounts across urban and rural areas or between income groups, there are disparities when we look at the percentage of inactive accounts.
- Although the value and number of digital transactions have increased, this rise has not been uniform. The gender difference in digital transactions is very noticeable.
- India once more stands out in comparison to nations like Bangladesh and Kenya when it comes to the rural-urban divide in digital payments.
- India has made great progress, but there is still a long way to go before it can truly be called “Digital India.”
Nut Graf: India’s performance is miserable when compared to that of other emerging nations, despite the fact that digital transactions have significantly expanded.
F. Prelims Facts
1. What is Sam Altman’s biometric project?
Syllabus: GS 3- Economy
Prelims: crypto currency, Worldcoin and zero knowledge proofs
What is Worldcoin?
- Worldcoin is an initiative to create a digital network where everyone can claim a stake and participate in the global digital economy.
- The project aims to provide a World ID, a unique identifier, to individuals by scanning their iris patterns through a device called “Orb.”
- Worldcoin is designed to be an open network accessible to people worldwide.
How does Worldcoin work?
- Worldcoin users can participate by either having their irises scanned or becoming “Orb operators”, who scan others’ irises.
- Orb operators are volunteers who receive basic training and a biometric device to scan irises. They may even rent out the Orb to others for scanning.
- Those who receive a World ID through the scanning process are eligible to claim WLD crypto, a token based on the Ethereum blockchain.
- Users can use WLD for transactions or hold it as an investment. Additionally, WLD can be bought or sold without going through the scanning process.
- Orb operators receive WLD as incentives for signing up more people to the Worldcoin network.
Why does Worldcoin scan irises?
- Worldcoin aims to include everyone in its network, and biometric information, such as iris scans, is seen as a valid way to prevent duplication and ensure uniqueness.
- Worldcoin highlights India’s Aadhaar system as an example of how biometrics have been effectively used to prevent duplicate entries.
- The company claims to use zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to maintain user privacy and states compliance with Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
- Worldcoin emphasises that individuals seeking a World ID are not required to share personal information like name, phone number, email address, or home address. Images collected for iris scanning are immediately deleted after generating a unique iris code, unless the user opts for Data Custody.
Was Worldcoin criticised?
- Worldcoin faced criticism even before its re-launch. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden pointed out that despite deleting biometric scans for privacy reasons, the unique identifier of the scan could still be used to match future scans of the same person’s eyes.
Has Worldcoin come to India?
- According to the company website, Worldcoin has expanded its operations to India.
- Worldcoin lists 18 locations, primarily in Delhi, Noida, and Bangalore, where Orb operators are scanning people’s eyes.
- Some of these locations include popular malls and metro stations in the mentioned cities.
G. Tidbits
1. Despite age ratings, film ‘censorship’ continues to stay
- The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023, proposes graded age ratings for movies to assist parents in deciding whether their children can watch films unaccompanied.
- Despite the changes, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) continues to hold its censorship powers, which goes against the recommendation of becoming solely a classification authority, as suggested by an expert committee chaired by filmmaker Shyam Benegal in 2017.
- The U/A classification, currently used for films allowing minors to watch with adult accompaniment, will be divided into three levels – U/A 7+, U/A 13+, and U/A 16+ – once the Bill becomes law.
- Minors aged 14 can watch films rated U/A 7+ and 13+ without adult supervision, potentially leading to films with mature content being released without an ‘A’ or adult-only certificate.
- Some filmmakers express doubts about the benefits of the proposed system, preferring the old ‘U’, ‘U/A’, and ‘A’ regime. They were of the opinion that filmmakers should have the freedom to decide their target audience, and films made for specific groups might require an ‘A’ rating.
- The CBFC maintains censorship powers, even for films with the highest ‘A’ classification, resulting in censorship of nudity and certain swear words in cinemas.
- Film censorship in the era of streaming raises scepticism, given that OTT platforms already provide age ratings for their content since the Information Technology Rules, 2021 were implemented.
- MPs expressed concerns about swearing on streaming services, despite “curated content publishers” offering graded age ratings.
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Worldcoin:
- It creates a physical network for participation in the digital economy.
- “Orb” devices collect iris patterns for biometric data and issue World IDs through the World app.
- It aims to create an exclusive network for the global population.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
Worldcoin seeks to establish an inclusive digital network for the global population. Orb operators collect iris patterns for World IDs.
Q2. Which of the following organisations/institutions releases the Global Findex Report?
- United Nations Development Programme
- International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- World Economic Forum
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: c
Explanation:
The Global Findex Report is released by the World Bank. It provides data on financial inclusion and access to financial services worldwide.
Q3. Arrange the following islands in Indian Ocean from north to south based on their location:
- Seychelles
- Mauritius
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Réunion Island
Which of the following sequences is correct?
- 1-3-2-4
- 4-2-3-1
- 4-3-2-1
- 1-4-3-2
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: a
Explanation:
The correct sequence is 1-3-2-4
Q4. With reference to the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), consider the following statements:
- CBFC classifies films into different categories based on age restrictions.
- It appoints members to review and classify films.
- It regulates the public exhibition of films in India.
How many of the statements given above are incorrect?
- None
- Only two
- All three
- Only one
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: d
Explanation:
Statement 2 is incorrect. The members of the CBFC are appointed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
Q5. With reference to Sam Altman's biometric project, which statement is correct?
- It aims to build a time-traveling machine.
- It involves scanning iris patterns for personal identification.
- The project is focused on creating a dating app for sharing biometric data.
- It aims to develop a device called “Moon” to connect people to the digital economy.
CHECK ANSWERS:-
Answer: b
Explanation:
Sam Altman’s biometric project involves scanning iris patterns for personal identification purposes.
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
- Mob lynching and vigilantism are growing problems in India. State some steps that have been undertaken to address this issue, both by the government and the Judiciary. What more can be done? (15 marks, 250 words) [GS-2; Governance]
- Financial Inclusion is not a number to be stated on papers. People need to be actively using the financial systems to be called financially included. Elucidate in the context of India. (10 Marks, 150 words) [GS-3; Economy]
Read the previous CNA here.
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