TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Centre defends UNGA abstention
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. 7.5% dip in active workforce under MGNREGS, says study
INTERNAL SECURITY
1. Why will police stations install DNA systems?
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
F. Prelims Facts
1. Kathaprasangam - Kerala art form of narrating stories
2. WHO Southeast Asia members to meet
3. Bangladesh is building memorial to honour Indian heroes of 1971 war
4. Cloud seeding
G. Tidbits
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

Category: INTERNAL SECURITY

1. Why will police stations install DNA systems?

Syllabus: Internal Security Challenges in India

Prelims: DNA systems

Mains: Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act (CrPI) provisions

Context​: The Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act (CrPI) was passed in April 2022, allowing police and central investigating agencies to collect, store, and analyze physical and biological samples, including retina and iris scans, of arrested individuals.

• The Act’s rules were notified in September 2022, but its full implementation is pending as the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is preparing guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for its execution.

Key highlights:

• The CrPI Act replaced the British-era Identification of Prisoners Act, 1920, extending the scope to capture and record modern body measurements, including DNA and facial recognition.
• The NCRB plays a pivotal role in storing, processing, sharing, disseminating, and destroying records of measurements collected by police and prison officials.
• While police have been trained for fingerprint impressions, iris scanners, DNA sampling, and facial recognition systems are yet to be provided.
• The Act aims to modernize the process of capturing and storing data related to arrested individuals.
• It expands the scope to allow authorized individuals, including medical practitioners, to take measurements.
• Records are to be stored for 75 years, creating a comprehensive database accessible to authorized officials nationwide.

Role of NCRB:

• The central body has been entrusted with the task to “store, process, share, disseminate and destroy records of measurements.” Impressions taken at any police station will be stored in a common database maintained by the NCRB. 
• The database could be accessed by authorised police and prison officials across the country. 
• Any person skilled in taking the measurements or a registered medical practitioner or any person authorised to take such measurements may also take them. The records are to be stored for 75 years.
• Police across States have been trained to record finger impressions through the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS). 
• NAFIS, also under the NCRB, is a separate project that was launched in 2022. It assigns a unique ten-digit National Fingerprint Number (NFN) to all suspects arrested by the police. State police have their own fingerprint database. 
• NAFIS integrates the data on a common platform, enabling the police to run a countrywide search to match fingerprint impressions lifted from a crime scene. NAFIS workstations are operational in many States.

Challenges

• Violation of fundamental rights, including the right to privacy,
• Issues with protection of such data
• Non clarity of rules for police officers
• Onus for destruction of data in this 75 year time period has also been placed on the people whose data has been collected
• Lack of training to handle DNA
• Lack of infrastructure such as internet connectivity.

Wayforward:

• Policymakers need to address concerns regarding the violation of fundamental rights, including privacy, and establish safeguards for the protection of collected data.
• Guidelines should specify the scope and circumstances under which measurements will be recorded, such as in offenses under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
• Adequate training for handling DNA samples, secure storage, and connectivity should be ensured, especially in smaller states.

Nut Graf: The implementation of the CrPI Act is a significant step towards modernizing the process of capturing and storing data related to arrested individuals. Addressing privacy concerns and ensuring proper training and safeguards will be crucial for the successful execution of the Act.

1. Kathaprasangam – Kerala art form of narrating stories

Context: Kathaprasangam, a traditional Kerala art form of storytelling accompanied by music, has a rich legacy. It transcends language barriers and vividly brings stories to life.

About Kathaprasangam 

• Kathaprasangam (lyrical narrative or story telling performance) is a performing art of Kerala, India.
• It combines speaking, acting, and singing to present a story. 
• Costumes, make-up, or settings are not used. The main artist, the Kaadhikan, tells the story, acts and sings with two or three accompanying instrumentalists.
• Themes are largely from classical and popular literature.
• It originated from an earlier art form Harikathakalakshepam.
• Kathaprasangam has a long history, with its roots in stories of oppression, untouchability, and human triumphs.
• The tradition has faced challenges in the modern era, with new forms of entertainment taking precedence.

Significance:

• Kathaprasangam remains an integral part of the annual school arts festivals, Asia’s largest youth gathering of its kind.
• It offers a unique way of communicating with people, addressing societal issues with urgency and directness.
• Notable Kathaprasangam artists like V. Sambashivan, Kedamangalam Sadanandan, and Kollam Babu have used the art form to mirror society effectively.
• The tradition was born out of the need to challenge the caste system and superstitions in Kerala society.
• It continues to be relevant today as religious identities are asserted at the expense of social harmony.

2. WHO Southeast Asia members to meet

Context: Health Ministers and senior officials from the WHO Southeast Asia member countries will convene in New Delhi for the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Southeast Asia.

• The session will focus on nominating the next WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia and discussing critical health issues.

Details:

• Priority health issues to be discussed include accelerating the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases.
• Other key topics involve ending neglected tropical diseases and ensuring regional health security.
• Two candidates, Saima Wazed from Bangladesh and Shambhu Prasad Acharya from Nepal, are competing for the position of WHO Regional Director.
• The meeting serves as the annual governing body session for the WHO at the regional level.
• It aims to address vital health concerns affecting the Southeast Asia region, home to over two billion people.
• The region has achieved significant milestones, such as eliminating polio, maternal and neonatal tetanus, and other diseases in several countries.
• Maternal, neonatal, and under-5 mortality rates have significantly reduced, and some countries have already met SDG targets.
• The region is actively investing in strengthening preparedness and response capacities following the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Efforts are focused on controlling cardiovascular diseases, targeting 100 million individuals with hypertension and/or diabetes for protocol-based management by 2025.

3. Bangladesh is building memorial to honour Indian heroes of 1971 war

Context: Bangladesh is in the advanced stages of constructing a memorial to honor Indian heroes of the 1971 Liberation War between India and Pakistan.

• The memorial, located in Ashuganj, Bangladesh, is set to bear the names of approximately 1,600 Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the conflict.
• This memorial marks a significant tribute to the shared history and sacrifices of Indian soldiers in the Liberation War.

Details: 

• The memorial is dedicated to Indian soldiers exclusively, acknowledging their immense contribution to the Liberation War.
• It recognizes the sacrifices made by Indian soldiers who fought alongside the Mukti Bahini and Bangladeshi forces for the independence of Bangladesh.
• The completion of the memorial and its inauguration by both the Indian and Bangladeshi Prime Ministers is scheduled for March or April, pending the electoral schedules of both nations.
• The memorial underscores the deep historical and emotional bonds between India and Bangladesh, as the two nations fought together for the freedom of Bangladesh.
• It serves as a symbol of gratitude and respect towards the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives for the cause of Bangladeshi liberation.
• This will be the first memorial in Bangladesh exclusively dedicated to Indian soldiers, highlighting their unique role in the 1971 Liberation War.
• The foundation stone for the memorial was laid by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in March 2021, further cementing bilateral ties.
• The memorial aims to ensure that the names of the Indian soldiers are permanently etched in the collective memory of Bangladesh.

4. Cloud seeding

Context: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune has demonstrated that cloud seeding can effectively produce rainfall.

• The experiment involved cloud seeding in Solapur, a region with historically low rainfall, during the summer monsoon periods of 2018 and 2019.
• The results of this experiment have been published in the “Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.”

Details:

• • Solapur, located on the leeward side of the Western Ghats, experiences relatively low rainfall, making it prone to water scarcity.
  • The study aimed to investigate the efficacy of cloud seeding, particularly hygroscopic seeding in deep convective clouds.
  • Not all cumulus clouds produce rainfall through cloud seeding, and the microphysics of clouds play a significant role in this process.
  • The experiment, known as the Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX phase-4), used two aircraft to study cloud parameters and conduct cloud seeding.
  • The study found that cloud seeding was effective in enhancing rainfall in suitable conditions.
  • Seeded clouds produced more rainfall compared to unseeded clouds, resulting in an 18% relative enhancement in rainfall.
  • In total, the experiment contributed 867 million liters of enhanced water availability through cloud seeding.
  • The study provides protocols and technical guidance for planning and conducting cloud seeding in India, helping stakeholders identify target locations and suitable seeding strategies.
  • The approximate cost of producing water through cloud seeding was 18 paisa per liter, and this cost could be reduced by over 50% by using indigenous seeding aircraft.
  • Cloud seeding is seen as a partial solution to addressing water requirements and potentially mitigating droughts.

G. Tidbits

Nothing here for today!!!

Q1. Which of the following statements is incorrect with respect 
to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)?

Q2. ‘Kathaprasangam’ - the art of storytelling performance with a 
blend of music and speech is a popular performing art form of:

Q3. Which of these countries was the first to be officially 
acknowledged as being yaws-free by the World Health Organisation?

Q4.'Ashuganj’ recently seen in news is located in which of these countries?

Q5. ‘Cloud seeding’ often seen in news refers to: