18 Mar 2024: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

E. Editorials

Category:Polity

1. Many elections, AI’s dark dimension

Syllabus: Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act

Mains: AI as New Disruptive Technology in Democracy

Introduction:

• The evolution of AI from Generative AI to potentially Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) marks a significant juncture in human progress.
• AI advocates, like Sam Altman of OpenAI, hail it as a transformative technology with the potential to enhance living standards.
• However, concerns about AI’s impact on human values and the potential for existential risks persist.
• The upcoming elections in various countries, including India, present a testing ground for AI’s influence on electoral dynamics.

Challenges and Opportunities of AI in Elections:

• The rapid advancement of AI, particularly Generative AI, poses both opportunities and challenges for policymakers and the electorate.
• While AI has the potential to revolutionize electoral processes, it also raises concerns about misinformation, propaganda, and the manipulation of voters.
• The use of sophisticated AI tools, such as deep fakes and micro-targeting, could significantly impact the quality and integrity of elections.
• Efforts to counteract AI’s negative influence on electoral behaviour are necessary to safeguard democratic principles and ensure informed decision-making.

Assessing AI’s Role in Democracy:

• AI’s ability to generate and disseminate misinformation threatens to undermine trust in democratic institutions and processes.
• While awareness of AI’s disruptive potential is essential, proactive measures must be taken to prevent AI-driven manipulation of public opinion.
• The unreliability and inherent biases of AI models, coupled with the emergence of adversarial capabilities, highlight the need for caution in relying too heavily on AI solutions.
• India, as a leader in digital innovation, must approach AI with caution, recognizing both its potential benefits and risks to democratic governance.

Mitigating AI’s Risks and Embracing Caution:

• Despite the promise of AI, concerns about its unreliability and potential for harm, including adversarial capabilities, necessitate careful consideration.
• Effective strategies to mitigate the risks associated with AI, such as poisoning, backdooring, and evasion, require further development.
• India’s digital leadership underscores the importance of exercising caution in embracing AI, recognizing its dual potential as both a boon and a threat to societal well-being.

Nut Graf: The upcoming elections worldwide, particularly in India, serve as a crucial test for AI’s influence. While AI offers transformative potential, concerns about misinformation and manipulation underscore the need for cautious navigation of its implications in democratic processes.

Category: International Relations

1. The Myanmar conflict is a regional problem

Syllabus: India and its Neighborhood- Relations

Mains: India-Myanmar relation in the backdrop of the coup

Background: 

• Coup aftermath: In February 2021, Myanmar experienced a coup overturning the results of the November 2020 general election.
• Media crackdown: The junta targeted independent media, exemplified by the raid on Mizzima’s headquarters in Yangon in March 2021.
• Population displacement: Over two million citizens fled their homes, with 1.5 million seeking refuge in neighbouring countries.
• Poverty and instability: Approximately half of Myanmar’s population, around 25 million people, faces poverty, contributing to regional destabilization.

Regional Impact of the Conflict:

• Cross-border effects: Conflict spillage into neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, China, India, and Thailand poses security risks and humanitarian challenges.
• Economic disruptions: Trade and economic corridors envisioned for the region face setbacks due to hostilities in Myanmar.
• Rise in criminal activity: The collapse of the rule of law in Myanmar fosters criminal networks that extend their reach across regional borders, impacting neighbouring countries.

ASEAN’s Role and Challenges:

• International expectations: ASEAN was looked upon to play a pivotal role in resolving the conflict following the coup.
• Ineffectiveness of efforts: Despite numerous meetings and a five-point consensus, ASEAN’s actions haven’t yielded substantive results in stabilizing Myanmar.
• Escalating conflict: The situation worsened with increased armed hostilities and the emergence of hundreds of resistance groups opposing the junta.

Resilience of Independent Media:

• Continuation of truth-telling: Despite persecution, Myanmar’s independent media persists in reporting facts and safeguarding press freedom.
• Formation of alternative structures: Independent Press Councils are emerging to counter state-controlled media bodies.

Path Forward: 

• Comprehensive regional approach: Policymakers are urged to view Myanmar’s situation holistically, considering its impact on regional stability and growth.
• Support for democracy: The resolution of the Myanmar conflict hinges on achieving a democratic post-junta Myanmar, aligning with the interests of all regional stakeholders.
• Support for journalists and citizens: Stakeholders, including ASEAN, are called upon to support Burmese journalists and the people of Myanmar in their quest for peace, stability, prosperity, and democracy.

Nut Graf: The Myanmar conflict, escalating since the 2021 coup, extends beyond national borders, affecting neighbouring countries. Despite regional efforts, ASEAN’s role remains limited. Supporting independent media and prioritising democratic solutions are crucial for regional stability.

Category:Environment

1. The problem of equity in IPCC reports

Syllabus: Environmental Pollution and Degradation

Mains: Environmental Justice & Equity

Prelims: IPCC report

Context: IPCC Assessment Reports and Future Scenarios

• IPCC assessment reports consist of Working Group reports on physical science, climate adaptation, and mitigation action, along with a synthesis report. These reports compile scientific literature on climate change.
• Future scenarios are assessed using Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs), which integrate human and earth systems to provide policy-relevant guidelines on climate action.
• IAMs consider factors such as GDP growth, energy consumption, land-use changes, and climate evolution to estimate pathways for limiting global warming.

Findings of the Study on Equity in IPCC Reports:

• Researchers analyzed over 500 future emissions scenarios from the IPCC’s latest report and found persistent disparities between developed and developing countries in terms of income, energy use, and emissions up to 2050.
• The study, conducted by researchers from various institutions, identified inequities in per-capita GDP, consumption patterns, and energy/fossil fuel consumption between regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the Global North.
• Developing countries were projected to bear a disproportionate burden of both mitigation actions and carbon dioxide removal technologies, such as carbon sequestration and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Importance of Equity in Climate Action:

• Equity principles, including common but differentiated responsibilities, are enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), emphasizing the need for global climate action based on fairness and respective capabilities.
• Viewing climate action solely through technical and economic feasibility, as often done in IAMs, may overlook equity considerations. Developed countries, with greater historical responsibility and capabilities, should take the lead in climate action.
• The study highlights the necessity of integrating equity and climate justice considerations into emissions modelling and scenario-building processes to ensure environmentally sound and equitable outcomes.

Implications and Recommendations for Future Scenario Construction:

• The study underscores the need to bridge the gap between emissions modelling and equity considerations in constructing IPCC scenarios.
• Future model and scenario-building techniques should prioritize questions of equity and climate justice to ensure fair distribution of responsibilities and resources among nations.
• Constructing equitable and environmentally sound scenarios is essential for effective global climate action and achieving the goals outlined in international agreements like the UNFCCC.

Nut Graf: Researchers find IPCC reports’ future scenarios lack equity, burdening developing countries disproportionately. Integrated Assessment Models (IAMs) prioritize technical feasibility over fairness, contradicting principles of global climate action. Integration of equity is crucial for effective climate mitigation

Q1. Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

Q2 Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding minimum wages in India?

Q4 Consider the following statements about the role of a “State Governor in India”:

Q5. With reference to furnace oil, consider the following statements: