05 Feb 2024: PIB Summary for UPSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem (DYCE)
2. High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) - ABHYAS
3. Black-necked Crane
4. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024

1. Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem (DYCE)

Syllabus: GS-3, Science & Technology; Cybersecurity

Prelims: Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem (DYCE), Digi Yatra

Mains: Cybersecurity

Context:

‘No central storage of passenger’s Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data through Digi Yatra’ – Union Minister 

What is the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem (DYCE)?

• Digi Yatra is an initiative of the Ministry of Civil Aviation for a biometric boarding system using Facial biometric verification Technology. 
• It aims at providing a seamless and hassle-free experience for passengers at airports. Its main objective is to enhance the passenger experience by eliminating the need for manual verification of tickets and ID at multiple touch points and to achieve better throughput through existing infrastructure using a Digital Framework.
• In the Digi Yatra process, there is no central storage of passengers’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII) data. 
• All the passengers’ data is encrypted and stored in the wallet of the passengers’ smartphone and shared only for a limited duration with the airport of travel origin where the passenger’s Digi Yatra ID needs to be validated. 
• The data is purged from the system within 24 hours of the flight. The data is shared by passengers only when they travel and only to the origin airport. 
• Any other entity cannot use the data since it’s encrypted and cannot be shared with any stakeholders.
• Digi Yatra Foundation (DYF), a non-profit organisation is implementing the Digi Yatra Central Ecosystem (DYCE), an ecosystem aimed at streamlining air travel pursuant to the Digi Yatra Policy issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

2. High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) – ABHYAS

Syllabus: GS-3, Security & Defence

Prelims: HEAT – ABHYAS, DRDO

Context:

DRDO carries out successful flight trials of High-speed Expendable Aerial Target ‘ABHYAS’ from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.

Details:

• Designed by DRDO’s Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), ABHYAS offers a realistic threat scenario for the practice of weapon systems. 
• It is designed for autonomous flying with the help of an auto-pilot indigenously made by the ADE. 
• It has Radar Cross-Section, Visual and Infrared augmentation system required for weapon practice. 
• It has a laptop-based Ground Control System with which the aircraft can be integrated and pre-flight checks, data recording during the flight, replay after the flight and post-flight analysis can be carried out. 
• ABHYAS requires minimum logistics and is cost-effective compared to imported equivalents.

3. Black-necked Crane

Syllabus: GS-3, Environment & Ecology

Prelims: Black-necked Crane

About the Black-necked Crane:

Image source: savingcranes.org

• Scientific name: Grus nigricollis
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Listed in Schedule I
• CITES: Appendix I
• It is a medium-sized crane.
• Distribution and habitat: Chiefly in the high-altitude Tibetan plateau. Largest numbers found in China followed by Vietnam, Bhutan and India.
• Important habitats in India: Changthang Sanctuary and Tso Kar Wetlands Complex in Ladakh.
• As per a survey conducted by the Wildlife Institute of India in 2016-2017 in the Ladakh region, the population size of black-necked cranes was around 66-69 individuals. In Arunachal Pradesh, a small population of approximately 11 individuals arrives during the winter months.

4. The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024

Syllabus: GS-2, Polity

Mains: The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, Education in India

Context:

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 introduced in the Lok Sabha.

Details:

• The government introduced the bill aimed to curb leaks, malpractices as well as organized malpractices in recruitment examinations like UPSC, SSC, etc. and entrance tests such as NEET, JEE, and CUET.
• The bill will also cover entrance examinations held by the Union Public Service Commission, the Staff Selection Commission, the Railways, banking recruitment examinations and all computer-based examinations conducted by the National Testing Agency.
• The Bill proposes a punishment of a minimum of three to five years of imprisonment to curb cheating and those involved in organised crimes of cheating will face five to 10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 crore.
• The Bill is aimed at preventing organised gangs and institutions that are involved in unfair means for monetary gains, but it protects candidates from its provisions.
• The bill gains significance in the backdrop of leaks of question papers and organised cheating that had affected the interests of lakhs of students due to the cancellation of tests and examinations.
• At present, there is no specific substantive law at the national level to deal with unfair means adopted or offences committed by persons, organized groups, or any other agency/organization that adversely impacts the conduct of Public Examinations by the Central Government and its agencies.
• Candidates shall not be liable for action within the purview of the Bill and shall continue to be covered under the extant administrative provisions of the concerned public examination authority.
• The government has also decided to set up a High-level National Technical Committee on Public Examinations which shall look into developing protocols for insulating digital platforms, devising ways and means for developing foolproof IT security systems, and ensuring comprehensive electronic surveillance of the examination centres.

Read previous PIB articles here.