02 Nov 2023: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

02 Nov 2023 CNA
Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Understanding the U.S.-Israel relations
C. GS 3 Related
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. AI and the issue of human-centricity in copyright law
GOVERNANCE
1. Impacting a woman’s freedom to reproductive choices
F. Prelims Facts
1. Politicians, tech leaders gather for U.K.’s AI summit
G. Tidbits
1. Author Nandini Das wins 2023 British Academy Book Prize
2. Kozhikode and Gwalior enter creative cities list
3. Kerala village bets big on mushroom coffee brand
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions
FIP Magazine

E. Editorials

Category: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. AI and the issue of human-centricity in copyright law

Syllabus: GS-3, Issues relating to Intellectual Property Rights.

Mains: Challenges to the current  copyright regime in the backdrop of the rise of AI and solutions related to it

Context:

  • The emergence of AI has raised questions about copyright in the digital age.
  • Global leaders are adapting to regulate AI use to safeguard humanity.

Recent Case in the USA:

  • In a US District Court case, Stephen Thaler claimed copyright for art created autonomously by his AI system, ‘Creativity Machine.’
  • The US Copyright Office rejected the application, stating that human authorship is essential for copyright protection.
  • The court upheld this position, in line with the US Copyright Office’s stance.

Case in India:

  • In 2020, the Indian Copyright Office initially accepted an application where the AI system, “RAGHAV Artificial Intelligence Painting App,” was listed as the sole author.
  • When the matter stirred controversy, the Copyright Office sent a notice to the human co-author, indicating its intent to withdraw the registration. However, as of the available data, the work remains registered without withdrawal.
  • This scenario in India is contrasted by the 161st Report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce in July 2021, which suggested reviewing the Copyright Act 1957 and the Patent Act 1970 to integrate emerging technologies like AI into their framework. However, the recommendations of the report did not seem to address the potential consequences for the startup ecosystem or the challenges of AI-related creations in copyright law.

Issue of Granting Copyright to AI-Generated Content:

  • Determining authorship: Identifying the true author of AI-generated work is complex.
  • Legal clarity: Ambiguity surrounds whether AI can hold copyright and how it relates to human authorship.
  • Ethical considerations: AI lacks personal motivations or moral responsibilities, raising ethical dilemmas in copyright ownership.
  • Impact on existing laws: Adapting current copyright laws to accommodate AI-generated content poses significant challenges.
  • International harmonisation: Establishing unified global standards for AI-related copyright laws is a considerable challenge.

Way Forward:

  • Policymakers and courts need to be cautious about diluting the human-centricity in copyright law, especially concerning AI-generated content.
  • The 161st Report of the Department-Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce recommended reviewing copyright and patent laws to incorporate AI-related technologies.
  • Policymakers should consider the implications of extending traditional copyright protections to AI-generated work and the potential impact on the startup ecosystem.
  • Continued discussions and studies on AI-related IP challenges are essential for shaping future copyright regulations.

Nut Graf: The emergence of AI has ignited a global debate over copyright law. Recent cases in the US and India highlight the differing approaches to granting copyright to AI-generated content. While the US emphasizes the need for human creativity, India took a more permissive stance. Policymakers must consider the implications of extending traditional copyright protections to AI and the impact on the startup ecosystem, as recommended by a parliamentary committee report.

Category: GOVERNANCE

1. Impacting a woman’s freedom to reproductive choices

Syllabus: GS-2, Issues Relating to Development and Management of Social Sector/Services Relating to Health

Mains: What are the legal and ethical implications of the X vs Union of India case?

Introduction:

  • On October 16, in X vs Union of India, the Supreme Court of India declined permission to a woman seeking to terminate a 26-week-long pregnancy.
  • The Court cited the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, which allows termination beyond 24 weeks only in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities or direct threat to the woman’s life.

Viable Foetus vs Woman’s Right:

  • The judgment, although not explicitly granting rights to the unborn, effectively limits a woman’s right to choose when a foetus becomes viable and capable of surviving outside the mother’s uterus.
  • This raises concerns about the prioritization of foetal rights over a pregnant woman’s right to privacy and dignity.

Lack of Examination of Fundamental Questions:

  • The Court failed to address critical questions:
    • Does a foetus have an autonomous moral status?
    • Does it have legal standing?
    • Can it exercise constitutional rights?
  • This oversight results in foetal rights being elevated above those of pregnant women.

The MTP Act: Enabling or Confining?

  • The Court did not explore whether the MTP Act merely enables a fundamental right or confers rights in itself.
  • If reproductive choice is considered a fundamental right, the Court could have considered extending the Act’s provisions.

Case Background:

  • The petitioner, a 27-year-old woman, sought termination due to post-partum depression and financial constraints.
  • Initially, the Court favoured her case, considering the potential impact on her mental health.

Contradictory Rulings:

  • A disagreement between two judges led to a separate Bench presided over by the Chief Justice.
  • The subsequent medical board report confirmed foetal viability and no abnormalities, leading to a recall of the earlier order.

Conflict with Privacy and Dignity Rights:

  • The verdict contradicts the Court’s recent jurisprudence on the fundamental rights to privacy and dignity.
  • In a previous case, the Court acknowledged a woman’s right to make reproductive choices without undue interference.

Implication of the MTP Act:

  • If reproductive choice is a fundamental right, the MTP Act should be viewed as an enabling legislation.
  • Where the Act’s provisions fall short, the Court should issue directions to further a woman’s right to choose, ensuring it is upheld.

Foetuses and Constitutional Rights:

  • The judgment implies constitutional rights for foetuses, contrary to established jurisprudence.
  • Our legal framework does not grant personhood to foetuses, as evidenced by the MTP Act’s provisions.

Conclusion:

  • The X vs Union of India case underscores the need to strike a balance between foetal rights and a woman’s freedom to make reproductive choices.
  • A woman’s right to privacy and dignity should remain paramount, and the MTP Act should be seen as enabling legislation to protect these fundamental rights.

Nut Graf: The X vs Union of India case highlights a critical dilemma in Indian law regarding a woman’s right to reproductive choices and the status of a foetus. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to prioritize foetal viability over a woman’s autonomy raises concerns about constitutional rights and the interpretation of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.

F. Prelims Facts

1. Politicians, tech leaders gather for U.K.’s AI summit

Syllabus: GS 3- Science and Technology

Prelims: Bletchley Declaration

Introduction

  • The first Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety Summit was held at Bletchley Park, the historic site where scientists, including Alan Turing, cracked the Nazis’ Enigma code during World War II.
  • The summit aimed to create a framework for mitigating AI risks while maximising its potential and resulted in the “Bletchley Declaration.”
  • The declaration underscores the need to address AI risks to unlock its potential safely, emphasising cooperation between governments, technology developers, and civil society.

Key Highlights from the Bletchley Declaration

  • The “Bletchley Declaration” emphasises the importance of collaboration between governments, technology developers, and civil society to ensure AI safety.
  • It affirms the need to address AI risks to harness its extraordinary opportunities.

International Collaboration and Framework for AI Regulation

  • Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, representing the Government of India, stressed the importance of international conversations on AI.
  • He suggested a sustained approach to regulating technology, driven by a coalition of countries to prevent innovation from outpacing regulation.
  • India currently chairs the Global Partnership on AI, a coalition of 15 governments.
  • U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo, announced the U.S. would launch its own AI safety institute, focusing on voluntary disclosures by AI companies and mandatory safety testing result sharing.

China’s Role and International Governance Framework

  • China expressed its willingness to enhance dialogue and communication in AI safety to build an international governance framework.
  • Recent sanctions by the Biden administration on the transfer of AI-related technology have been a source of concern for Beijing.
  • China has previously called for a global AI framework at international forums.

Upcoming AI Safety Summits

  • South Korea will host the next AI Safety Summit in six months, followed by a second summit in six months hosted by France.
  • Several global leaders and tech figures attended the summit, but some G-7 heads of government were not present.

G. Tidbits

1. Author Nandini Das wins 2023 British Academy Book Prize

  • Nandini Das, an Indian-born author and academic based in the U.K., has been named the winner of the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding.
  • Her winning book, “Courting India: England, Mughal India and the Origins of Empire,” offers a unique perspective on the origins of the British Empire through England’s early diplomatic mission to the Mughal courts.
  • The British Academy Book Prize, formerly referred to as the Nayef Al-Rodhan Prize, was created to acknowledge and commemorate the finest non-fiction publications that exemplify academic excellence.
  • Nandini Das received the 2023 British Academy Book Prize for Global Cultural Understanding, a prestigious international non-fiction award with a prize of £25,000.
  • The book “Courting India” is renowned as the authentic narrative of the beginnings of the relationship between Britain and India, with a central focus on England’s inaugural diplomatic mission to the Mughal courts.
  • Das, a professor in the English faculty at the University of Oxford, uses contemporary sources from Indian and British political figures, officials, and merchants to provide immediacy to the early encounters between England and the Mughal Empire.

2. Kozhikode and Gwalior enter creative cities list

Introduction

  • Kozhikode in Kerala and Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh have been designated as UNESCO Creative Cities for their significant contributions in the fields of literature and music, respectively.
  • The announcement was made by UNESCO on World Cities Day, October 31, reflecting the strong commitment of these cities to culture, creativity, and human-centred urban planning.

Key Points

  • UNESCO announced that Kozhikode and Gwalior have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) for their remarkable contributions to literature and music.
  • UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay acknowledged these cities for their dedication to harnessing culture and creativity as integral components of their development strategies.
  • The Creative Cities Network recognizes innovative urban planning practices that prioritise culture and human-centred approaches.
  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the people of Kozhikode and Gwalior for this significant achievement.

Upcoming Participation

  • The recently designated Creative Cities have been extended an invitation to participate in the upcoming 2024 UCCN Annual Conference, which is set to take place from July 1 to July 5, 2024, in Braga, Portugal.

3. Kerala village bets big on mushroom coffee brand

  • Lalu Thomas, hailing from rural Thalavoor in Kerala, has defied the odds by launching La Bae, potentially Kerala’s first mushroom coffee brand, with the support of the Krishi Vigyan Kendra. 
  • The product, which initially lacked a solid business plan, has made a significant mark in export and online markets, achieving a monthly turnover of over ₹1 lakh in just a few months. 
  • The success of La Bae has inspired the local Thalavoor panchayat to introduce “Koon Gramam,” a project to promote mushroom cultivation in the area, with a focus on training around 100 farmers, primarily women.
  • Various mushroom varieties, such as oyster, button, lion’s mane, milky, and turkey tail, are used in La Bae, along with organic arabica coffee beans from Wayanad.
  • Future plans include introducing additional products like mushroom chocolate and mushroom cookies.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to UNESCO's Creative Cities Network:
  1. It aims to promote cooperation for sustainable urban development through creativity.
  2. It covers seven creative fields including literature, music, and design.
  3. Gwalior and Kozhikode from India have joined it recently.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. All three
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: All three statements are correct.

 

Q2. Who has been nominated as the next Regional Director for the World Health 
Organization’s South-East Asia region?
  1. Sheikh Hasina
  2. Khaleda Zia
  3. Saima Wazed
  4. Motia Chowdhury
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: Bangladesh’s Saima Wazed, daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been nominated as the next Regional Director for the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia region.

 

Q3. With reference to La Bae mushroom coffee brand from Kerala, which of the following 
statements is/are incorrect?
  1. It has been developed with support from Krishi Vigyan Kendra.
  2. Thalavoor panchayat has started the ‘Koon Gramam’ project to extend mushroom cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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

Answer: d

Explanation: Both statements are correct.

Q4. The Bletchley Declaration was recently endorsed by several countries to promote 
responsible development of which technology?
  1. Nuclear technology
  2. Space technology
  3. Artificial intelligence
  4. Genetic engineering
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation: The Bletchley Declaration on responsible development of Artificial Intelligence was endorsed by 28 countries and the European Union. It encourages transparency and accountability from AI developers in monitoring and mitigating potentially harmful capabilities.

Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Sir Thomas Roe's visit to Mughal 
Emperor Jahangir's court:
  1. He arrived in 1610 as the first ambassador of the English King to the Mughal court.
  2. His visit marked the first step in establishing the British East India Company’s power in India.
  3. Earlier William Hawkins had visited Jahangir in 1608 and secured a permit to establish a factory at Surat.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

  1. Only one
  2. Only two
  3. All three
  4. None
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: a

Explanation: Statement 1 is incorrect as Roe arrived in 1615, not 1610. Statement 3 is also incorrect as Hawkins could not secure trading rights for the British earlier.


Comments

Leave a Comment

Your Mobile number and Email id will not be published.

*

*