Daily Prelims Notes 25 March 2023
- March 25, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN
Daily Prelims Notes
25 March 2023
Table Of Contents
- Bengaluru’s civic body dumped mud on the Hosakerehalli lake
- NGT slaps ₹10 crore penalty on Kerala government for failure to protect Ramsar sites
- Pastoralist Van Gujjars ask why they still need permit to enter their own land
- EU weighs up future of wood-burning as renewable energy source
- Long-term Tax Benefits Removed for Debt Mutual Funds
- RBI asked to monitor card spending under LRS for tax purposes
- Government to organize Tamil Sangamam in Saurashtra and Uttarakhand
- Rahul Gandhi’s conviction, jail term flag need to abolish criminal defamation
- ICMR releases ethical guidelines for AI usage in healthcare
- Tested underwater drone able to trigger a radioactive tsunami, says North Korea
- Odisha for tweak in OBC law to include castes in State list
- House panel calls for a comprehensive national EV policy, extension of Fame II
- For every ₹100 of premium paid for crop insurance under PMFBY, farmers received ₹514 as claims: Govt
- Honey production up 6.56 per cent, exports rose 24% in 2021-22: Tomar
- RBI central board reviews global, domestic economy
1. Bengaluru’s civic body dumped mud on the Hosakerehalli lake
Subject: Environment
Section: Places in news
Context: The lake located in Rajarajeshwari Nagar has been in need of restoration for the last few years. But residents living in the vicinity of the lake saw BBMP trucks dumping huge mounds of mud into it.
More on the News:
- Trucks dumping huge mounds of mud on Bengaluru’s Hosakerehalli lake in Rajarajeshwari Nagar recently alarmed local residents and environmentalists, who shared photos on social media and demanded a response from the authorities. In two weeks, it was observed that a 25 feet-wide road was being constructed on the lake.
- Initially, officials from the civic body Bruhat Bengaluru MahanagaraPalike (BBMP) denied any project being undertaken but they have now said the mud will be removed.
Hosakerehalli lake
- Hosakerehalli Lake is a man-made lake located in the southwestern part of Bengaluru city in the Indian state of Karnataka
- The Hosakerehalli Lake was built in the 16th century during the reign of Kempe Gowda, the founder of Bengaluru. Over time, the lake became an important source of water for irrigation and drinking.
- Hosakerehalli Lake is home to a wide variety of bird species, including migratory birds like the spot-billed pelican, Eurasian coot, and common teal.
- The lake is connected to several other water bodies in the area, including the Vrishabhavathi River, which is a major tributary of the Arkavathy River.
- The lake provides important ecosystem services such as groundwater recharge, flood control, and habitat for a variety of plant and animal species. It is also an important recreational space for local residents.
- Threats to lake:
- The waste collected from houses and poultries is dumped in the lake. Even the medicinal waste is dumped here.
- The untreated sewage from Sapthagiri layout enters the lake.
- The borewells have been dug on the lake bed.
- Encroachment of areas around them
- The funds which are released in the name of funding to restore the lake are not being utilised.
Lakes
- Lakes are defined by the National Lake Conservation Program (NLCP) as standing water bodies with a minimum water depth of 3 m, a water spread of more than ten hectares, and no or very little aquatic vegetation.
- Lakes are a diverse group of inland freshwater ecosystems found all over the world.
Importance of Lakes
- Water Cycle: Lakes are a crucial aspect of the water cycle because they collect all of the water in a certain area. The watershed, or all the streams and rivers that feed into a single lake, filters the water.
- Transportation and Commerce: Lakes have served as transportation and commercial channels for ages.
- Source of Water: Many settlements get their water from lakes. Drought-resistant water is stored in artificial lakes. Dam-created lakes also produce hydroelectric power.
- Crop Irrigation: Farmers irrigate their crops with lake water. Farmers benefit from the climate effect of particularly large lakes.
- Recreation Sites: Lakes are popular recreation sites because they are quite attractive.
- Permanent Residence: Lakes are permanent homes for certain groups of people
- Lake Effect:Winds blowing from lakes help to make the climate more equal because water does not heat or cool as quickly as land.
National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP)
- Since 2001, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has been implementing the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) to conserve and manage polluted and degraded lakes in urban and semi-urban areas.
- An integrated scheme, NPCA, combining the National Lake Conservation Plan and the National Wetlands Conservation Programme was created to avoid overlap, promote better synergies, and ensure conservation and management work.
- The new scheme will include conservation and management of lakes and wetlands in the country, including an inventory and information system on lakes and wetlands, a national level directive on lake and wetlands criteria, a regulatory framework, capacity building at the state government and local body levels, evaluation, and so on.
- Its goal was of conserving aquatic ecosystems (lakes and wetlands) through the implementation of long-term conservation plans governed by uniform policy and guidelines.
NLCP – Aim & Objectives
- The National Lake Conservation Plan aims at comprehensive conservation and restoration of lakes and wetlands for attaining desired water quality enhancement in addition to improvement in biodiversity and ecosystem.
- It was planned to be conducted through an integrated and interdisciplinary strategy with a shared regulatory framework.
- This program would promote biodiversity, lower pollutant loads, and the commodities and services that these bodies of water provide to the stakeholders.
- Through an integrated ecosystem approach, to restore and conserve the country’s urban and semi-urban lakes that have degraded due to waste water discharge into the lake, as well as other unique freshwater eco systems.
2. NGT slaps ₹10 crore penalty on Kerala government for failure to protect Ramsar sites
Subject : Environment
Section: Ecosystem
Context: The Principal Bench of the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi has slapped a penalty of ₹10 crore on the Kerala government for its failure to check the indiscriminate pollution of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes, listed as Ramsar sites.
More on the News:
- The Bench, led by its chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel, said that the penalty imposed on the basis of the ‘polluter pays principle’ had to be deposited in a ring-fenced account to be operated under the authority of the Chief Secretary.
- The deposit had to be made within a month, it said while disposing of a petition alleging failure of statutory and administrative authorities in taking remedial action for protection of the Vembanad and Ashtamudi lakes hit by illegal waste dumping.
- The penalty of ₹10 crore had to be utilised for conservation/restoration measures by preparing an action plan to be preferably executed within six months.
- The Bench said the report depicted the disappointing state of affairs in ensuring the mandatory duty of protecting wetlands, which are Ramsar sites, in spite of binding orders of the Supreme Court in similar cases.
- Action taken at the State level was also inadequate to remedy the situation. The State cannot plead helplessness in implementing guaranteed rights of the citizens and also in taking stringent measures for protection of environment and public health.
Polluter Pays Principle
- Polluter Pays Principle (PPP) states that those who pollute the environment should bear the costs of their actions to prevent or mitigate damage to the environment. The PPP is based on the idea that the polluter should pay for the costs of pollution, rather than passing them on to others.
- The PPP was first introduced in 1972 by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in its Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The principle has since been incorporated into various international environmental treaties and agreements, including the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.
Vembanad Lake
- Vembanad Lake is also known asVembanadKayal, VembanadKol, Punnamada Lake (in Kuttanad) and Kochi Lake (in Kochi).
- Spanning several districts of Kerala and covering a territory of more than 2033.02 km2.
- The lake has its source in four rivers, Meenachil, Achankovil, Pampa and Manimala
- It is separated from the Arabian Sea by a narrow barrier island and is a popular backwater stretch in Kerala.
- Vallam Kali (i.e Nehru Trophy Boat Race) is a Snake Boat Race held every year in the month of August in Vembanad Lake.
- In 2002, it was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention.
- It is the second-largest Ramsar site in India only after the Sundarbans in West Bengal.
- The Government of India has identified the Vembanad wetland under the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.
- The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake.
- In 2019, Willingdon Island, a seaport located in the city of Kochi, was carved out of Vembanad Lake.
- One of the most outstanding features of this lake is the 1252 m long saltwater barrier, Thanneermukkom, which was built to stop saltwater intrusion into Kuttanad.
Ashtamudi Lake
- Ashtamudi Lake or AshtamudiKayal, in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala, is the most visited backwater and lake in the state.
- It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) water body, second only in size to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state.
- Ashtamudimeans ‘eight braids’ in the local Malayalam language.
- The name is indicative of the lake’s topography with its multiple branches.
- The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is well known for its houseboat and backwater resorts.
- Ashtamudi Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of internationalimportance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
More details on NGT https://optimizeias.com/ngt-appointed-committee-holds-kochi-corporation-responsible/
3. Pastoralist Van Gujjars ask why they still need permit to enter their own land
Subject : Environment
Section: Environment laws
Context: Voices of the Van Gujjars have been silenced by restrictions in the form of ‘permits’.
More on the News:
- Van Gujjars have been dwelling with the animals in the forests for centuries. During their summer migration, these tribes go to the buffer areas of the Sankri, Supin and Rupin ranges of Govind Pashu Vihar National Park in Uttarkashi district. Whereas, in winter, they live in the Mohand area of Uttar Pradesh.
- Permission for entry is granted annually, according to the Uttarakhand environment and forests department Section-II letter dated May 14, 2013, which comes under Section 4 (5) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006.
- In the letter, the government is also made to realise that the Van Gujjars do not create any pressure on the forests. Their survival will be nil if they do not earn money from pilgrims, as there will be no water or fodder available in the plains for the following six months.
- The implementation of the Scheduled Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 can solve the issue of seeking permits each year. Chapter II of the Act entails the forest rights of these indigenous communities.
Rights of Pastoralists under Forests Rights Act 2006:
- It has ensured that even pastoralists possess rights to access grazing pastures in lieu of the Community Forest Resource right they are eligible for.
- Section 2 (a) prescribes for the rights of pastoral communities on customary common forest land within the traditional or customary boundaries of a village.
- It also prescribes the seasonal use of a landscape in case of pastoral communities, including in unclassed forests, reserve forests, un-demarcated forests, deemed forests, protected forests, sanctuaries and national parks.
- High Court’s Order:
- Upholds the right of Van Gujjars to migrate to their summer homesteads in the bugyals (Himalayan alpine meadows) located within the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park.
- The court relied on Article 21 (Protection of Life and Personal Liberty) of the constitution.
Van Gujjars
- Van Gujjars are the forest-dwelling nomadic community inhabiting the foothills of Himalayan States such as Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
- These buffalo herders live among the dry deciduous forests of the Shivalik hills in the winter season. For summer grazing, they travel to high mountain pastures located at 8,000-12,000 feet above sea level. This transhumance practiced by the Van Gujjars is important for the survival of their buffaloes, their livelihood and their fodder management.
- The wild buffaloes domesticated by the Van Gujjars cannot survive in excessively hot and cold conditions. In April, with the oldest female buffalo leading the herd, they start walking towards the colder Himalayan region. The scenario repeats itself when they descend in late September.
- By the time the Van Gujjars reach the mountains, the Char Dham Yatra also begins. The Van Gujjars sell their milk-made products to tourists to earn a livelihood.
- Moreover, the time spent uphill allows for the regeneration of forests in the plains — a good source of fodder for the animals. Thus, the nature of migration remains eco-friendly.
4. EU weighs up future of wood-burning as renewable energy source
Subject : Environment
Section: Climate Change
Context: As Europe races to replace Russian fossil fuels with cleaner power sources, EU lawmakers are weighing up the future of firewood as a renewable energy source. The debate is getting heated.
More on the News:
- The European Union’s race to rid itself of dependence on Russian fossil fuels is well underway.
- The International Energy Agency says widespread bids to beef up energy security “turbocharged” growth of green power in 2022, and EU parliamentarians hope to ramp up renewables targets to reach 45% of bloc-wide energy consumption by 2030.
- The word “renewable” often conjures up images of wind farms or solar panels — less so scenes of burning trees. But biomass, which includes firewood, plants and other organic materials, makes up 60% of the EU’s renewable energy mix according to the European Commission.
EU’s Claim:
- Because new trees can be planted after others have been chopped down, firewood gets the renewable seal of approval under EU law. That means member countries can subsidize wood burning, as long as certain sustainable sourcing rules are met.
- EU officially counts wood and other biomass as carbon neutral, based on the premise that CO2 emitted through burning will be reabsorbed by more trees in the future.
- European Parliament wants to limit subsidies for burning wood taken directly from forests, and instead restrict state support to secondary wood products like sawdust.
- European Commission promises tighter forest sustainability rules. The European Commission has also put forward plans to tighten laws on which firewood qualifies for subsidies.
Bioenergy Industry’s Claim:
- Eurelectric, an industry group representing national electricity associations and major electricity companies across Europe, said that the European Parliament proposals would “disturb the practicalities of forest management, lead to further supply shortages of sustainable biomass, and thus impair energy security and increase prices.”
- Eurelectric also argued that the suggestion to restrict subsidies could result in some wood excluded from support under proposals, to decompose on forest floors.
Environmentalist’s claim:
- Burning woody biomass also levels forests that would curb climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and storing it above and below ground, as long as the trees remain standing. Those standing forests also support significant biodiversity, which clearcut forests and replanted plantation monocultures don’t.
- 500 scientists signed a letter to world leaders last year arguing that the carbon debt from burning biomass takes 50-100 years to be repaid from replanting trees or expanding forests — time humanity doesn’t have if it is to avoid climate catastrophe.
India’s Bioenergy Programme: https://optimizeias.com/national-bioenergy-programme/
5. Long-term Tax Benefits Removed for Debt Mutual Funds
Subject :Economy
Concept :
- As per the amendments made in Budget 2023, no benefit of indexation for the calculation of long-term capital gains tax on debt mutual funds will be available for investments made on or after April 1, 2023.
About Debt mutual funds:
- Debt funds are mutual fund schemes which invest in fixed-income generating securities such as Commercial Papers (CP), Certificate of Deposit (CD), Corporate Bonds, T-Bills, government securities and other money market instruments.
- These instruments have a fixed maturity date and interest rate that the buyers could earn till the maturity of the security.
- They are considered to be less volatile than equity funds and are hence ideal for investors who are relatively risk-averse and are looking for stability in their investments.
Taxation on Debt Mutual Funds:
- When it comes to the taxation of debt mutual funds, the concept of indexation is applicable in long-term capital gains from such funds.
- You will incur a capital gain if the redemption value is higher than the amount you invested.
- Such capital gains will be considered long-term in debt mutual funds if the investment is redeemed after 3 years (36 months) from the date of investment.
- So, for example, if you invest Rs.1 lakh in debt funds and after 4 years you redeem the fund, which amounts to Rs.1.5 lakhs, the long-term capital gain incurred is Rs. 50,000.
- On this long-term capital gain, a long-term capital gain tax is payable.
- However, the tax is calculated after applying for the indexation benefit.
What is Indexation Benefit?
- Inflation reduces the purchasing power of money. So, at the time of redeeming any investment, inflation needs to be considered.
- For example, if you have invested Rs. 100 in Year 1 and get a return of Rs. 110 in Year 5, the return is not exactly Rs. 10.
- This is because the purchasing power of Rs. 110 would have reduced with time due to inflation.
- Indexation benefit is applied to the investment amount to tax your returns fairly, which factors in inflation.
- Basically, indexation helps you to calculate the new value of your investment, considering inflation and also help to get real capital gain.
Present Status of Indexation Benefit in Debt Mutual Funds:
- Currently, in debt mutual funds, the long-term capital gains are taxed @20% with indexation benefit.
Capital Gain tax
- The capital gains tax is the levy on the profit that an investor makes when an investment is sold. It is owed for the tax year during which the investment is sold.
- It applies to capital assets, which include stocks, bonds, digital assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs, jewellery, coin collections, and real estate.
- Types of capital gain tax :
- Long-term Capital Gains Tax: It is a levy on the profits from the sale of assets held for more than a year. The rates are 0%, 15%, or 20%, depending on the tax bracket.
- Short-term Capital Gains Tax: It applies to assets held for a year or less and is taxed as ordinary income.
Change brought in through Finance Bill 2023:
- An amendment proposed through Finance Bill 2023 aims to remove the benefit of indexation available to debt mutual funds.
- As per the proposed amendment, no benefit of indexation will be provided to debt mutual fund investment made on or after 1st April, 2023.
- However, only those debt mutual funds will lose these benefits where equity investment in such schemes is less than 35 per cent.
- From 1st April onwards, such funds will be taxed at income tax rates as per an individual’s income.
6. RBI asked to monitor card spending under LRS for tax purposes
Subject : Economy
Section: External Sector
Concept :
- Seeking to tighten the implementation of the increased 20% tax collection at source norm for foreign remittances introduced in Budget 2023-24, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said the RBI has been asked to monitor the use of credit cards for foreign travel purposes.
- It has been represented that payments for foreign tours through credit cards are not being captured under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) and such payments escape tax collection at source.
Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS)
- This is the scheme of the Reserve Bank of India, introduced in the year 2004.
- All resident individuals, including minors, are allowed to freely remit up to $250,000 per financial year (April–March) for any permissible current or capital account transaction or a combination of both.
- Not Eligible: The Scheme is not available to corporations, partnership firms, Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), Trusts etc.
- Though there are no restrictions on the frequency of remittances under LRS, once a remittance is made for an amount up to USD 2,50,000 during the financial year, a resident individual would not be eligible to make any further remittances under this scheme.
- Remitted Money can be used for:
- Expenses related to travelling (private or for business), medical treatment, study, gifts and donations, maintenance of close relatives and so on.
- Investment in shares, debt instruments, and buy immovable properties in the overseas market.
- Individuals can also open, maintain and hold foreign currency accounts with banks outside India for carrying out transactions permitted under the scheme.
- Requirements: It is mandatory for the resident individual to provide his/her Permanent Account Number (PAN) for all transactions under LRS made through Authorized Persons.
7. Government to organize Tamil Sangamam in Saurashtra and Uttarakhand
Subject :History
Section: Art and Culture
Concept :
- The central government has announced “Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam” on the lines of the Kashi Sangamam to be held in Saurashtra from 17th April 2023 onwards.
- The program will rediscover, reaffirm and celebrate the over 1,000-year-old emigration and contribution of Saurashtrian Tamils.
- At the press conference organized in the city, the dignitaries launched an iconic logo, theme song, and a registration portal for participants.
- Over 3,000 participants will be offered a once-in-a-life glimpse into the life of Saurashtrian Tamils, history, art, and the economic activities in and around Saurashtra.
- Kedarnath-Tamil Sangamam
- The third will be the Kedarnath-Tamil Sangamam, which will celebrate the civilisational links between people from the southern part of the country and the sacred shrines of Uttarakhand in the north.
Kashi Tamil Sangamam
- Kashi Tamil Sangamam celebrates many aspects of the historical and civilisational connection between India’s North and South.
- The broader objective is to bring the two knowledge and cultural traditions (of the North and South) closer, create an understanding of our shared heritage and deepen the people-to-people bond between the regions.
- It is being organized by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with other ministries like Culture, Textiles, Railways, Tourism, Food Processing, Information & Broadcasting etc. and the Government of Uttar Pradesh.
- The endeavour is in sync with National Education Policy (NEP), 2020’s emphasis on integrating the wealth of Indian Knowledge Systems with modern systems of knowledge.
- IIT Madras and Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are the two implementing agencies for the programme.
Cultural Significance:
- King Parakrama Pandya, who ruled over the region around Madurai in the 15th century, wanted to build a temple to Lord Shiva, and he travelled to Kashi (Uttar Pradesh) to bring back a lingam.
- While returning, he stopped to rest under a tree — but when he tried to continue his journey, the cow carrying the lingam refused to move.
- Parakrama Pandya understood this to be the Lord’s wish, and installed the lingam there, a place that came to be known as Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu.
- For devotees who could not visit Kashi, the Pandyas had built the Kasi Viswanathar Temple in what is today Tenkasi in southwestern Tamil Nadu, close to the state’s border with Kerala.
8. Rahul Gandhi’s conviction, jail term flag need to abolish criminal defamation
Subject :Polity
Section: Constitution
Concept :
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been found guilty and sentenced to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surname.
Defamation
- Defamation is the act of communicating to a third party false statements about a person, place, or thing that results in damage to its reputation.
- Defamation essentially must fulfill the following requirements:
- The statement must be published (both oral and written forms publication)
- The statement must lower the estimation of the person (damaging to the reputation of the person against whom charges have been made).
Types of defamation
- There are two types of defamation in India: Civil and Criminal.
- Civil defamation: Under this, a person who is defamed can move either High Court or subordinate courts and seek damages in the form of monetary compensation. There is no punishment in the form of a jail sentence.
- Civil defamation is based on tort law (an area of law which does not rely on statutes to define wrongs but takes from an ever-increasing body of case laws to define what would constitute a wrong).
- Criminal Defamation: Under this, the person against whom a defamation case is filed might be sentenced to two years’ imprisonment or fined or both.
Respective Sections of IPC
- IPC Section 499 lays down the definition of defamation and Section 500 lays down the punishment for criminal defamation (two years’ imprisonment for a person found guilty of defamation).
- Section 499 also cites exceptions. These include “imputation of truth” which is required for the “public good” and thus has to be published, on the public conduct of government officials, the conduct of any person touching any public question and merits of the public performance.
- The Supreme Court recently upheld the validity of the criminal defamation law.
According to Supreme Court:
- Reputation of an individual, constituent in Article 21 is an equally important right as free speech.
- Criminalization of defamation to protect individual dignity and reputation is a “reasonable restriction”.
- The acts of expression should be looked at both from the perspective of the speaker and the place at which he speaks, the audience etc.
- In August 2016, the Supreme court also passed strictures on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for misusing the criminal defamation law to “suffocate democracy” and, the court said, “public figures must face criticism”.
- Shreya Singhal Vs. Union of India: It is a landmark judgment regarding internet defamation. It held unconstitutional the Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 which punishes for sending offensive messages through communication services.
9. ICMR releases ethical guidelines for AI usage in healthcare
Subject :Science and Technology
Section: Health
Concept :
- The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently released the first-ever set of ethical guidelines for the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in biomedical research and healthcare.
Ethical Guidelines for AI usage in Healthcare
- The guidelines aim to create “an ethics framework which can assist in the development, deployment, and adoption of AI-based solutions” in specific fields.
- Through this initiative, the ICMR aims to make “AI-assisted platforms available for the benefit of the largest section of common people with safety and highest precision possible”.
- It seeks to address emerging ethical challenges when it comes to AI in biomedical research and healthcare delivery.
Key features
- Effective and safe development, deployment, and adoption of AI-based technologies: The guidelines provide an ethical framework that can assist in the development, deployment, and adoption of AI-based solutions in healthcare and biomedical research.
- Accountability in case of errors: As AI technologies are further developed and applied in clinical decision making, the guidelines call for processes that discuss accountability in case of errors for safeguarding and protection.
- Patient-centric ethical principles: The guidelines outline 10 key patient-centric ethical principles for AI application in the health sector, including accountability and liability, autonomy, data privacy, collaboration, risk minimisation and safety, accessibility and equity, optimisation of data quality, non-discrimination and fairness, validity and trustworthiness.
- Human oversight: The autonomy principle ensures human oversight of the functioning and performance of the AI system.
- Consent and informed decision making: The guidelines call for the attainment of consent of the patient who must also be informed of the physical, psychological and social risks involved before initiating any process.
- Safety and risk minimisation: The safety and risk minimisation principle is aimed at preventing “unintended or deliberate misuse”, anonymised data delinked from global technology to avoid cyber attacks, and a favourable benefit-risk assessment by an ethical committee among a host of other areas.
- Accessibility, equity and inclusiveness: The guidelines acknowledge that the deployment of AI technology assumes widespread availability of appropriate infrastructure and thus aims to bridge the digital divide.
- Relevant stakeholder involvement: The guidelines outline a brief for relevant stakeholders including researchers, clinicians/hospitals/public health system, patients, ethics committee, government regulators, and the industry.
- Standard practices: The guidelines call for each step of the development process to follow standard practices to make the AI-based solutions technically sound, ethically justified, and applicable to a large number of individuals with equity and fairness.
- Ethical review process: The ethical review process for AI in health comes under the domain of the ethics committee which assesses several factors including data source, quality, safety, anonymization, and/or data piracy, data selection biases, participant protection, payment of compensation, possibility of stigmatisation among others.
Policy moves for streamlining AI in Healthcare
- India already offers streamlining of AI technologies in various sectors, including healthcare, through the National Health Policy (2017), National Digital Health Blueprint (NDHB 2019), and Digital Information Security in Healthcare Act (2018) proposed by the Health Ministry.
- These initiatives pave the way for the establishment of the National Data Health Authority and other health information exchanges.
Potential applications of AI in healthcare
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the healthcare industry by enabling various applications. These applications include:
- Diagnosis and screening: AI can be used to identify diseases from medical images like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs.
- Therapeutics: AI can assist in the development of personalised medicines by analyzing a patient’s genetic makeup.
- Preventive treatments: AI can predict the risk of developing a disease, helping healthcare professionals to take preventive measures.
- Clinical decision-making: AI can analyze large amounts of data to assist healthcare professionals in making treatment decisions.
- Public health surveillance: AI can be used to monitor disease outbreaks and inform public health policies.
- Complex data analysis: AI can analyze large amounts of data from multiple sources to identify patterns and inform healthcare decision-making.
- Predicting disease outcomes: AI can predict disease outcomes based on patient data, enabling early
- Behavioural and mental healthcare: AI can help diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
- Health management systems: AI can assist in managing patient records, appointment scheduling and reminders, and medication management.
10. Tested underwater drone able to trigger a radioactive tsunami, says North Korea
Subject: International Relations
Section: Msc
Concept:
- North Korea says it has tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone that can set off a “super-scale radioactive tsunami” to decimate naval fleets and ports of the enemy.
- The objective of the “secret weapon” is to infiltrate enemy waters and create an underwater explosion that will trigger tsunami waves, destroying naval strike groups and coastline targets including major ports, the state news agency KCNA said on Friday.
- North Korea said it conducted the tests from 21-23 March, deploying it off the coast of Riwon County of South Hamgyong Province on Tuesday.
- The drone cruised for over 59 hours, forming oval and figure-of-eight patterns at a depth of 80 to 150 metres, it said.
What is radioactive tsunami?
- North Korea has recently unveiled and test-fired its drone system, which is being dubbed “Haeil” or Tsunami. It is designed to create massive radioactive waves through submarine explosions. North Korean state news agency KCNA said, “This nuclear underwater attack drone can be deployed at any coast and port or towed by a surface ship for operation.”
Tsunamis
- These are a series of waves usually generated by movement of the sea floor. These movements are caused by different types of geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanic eruptions.
- The word tsunami is a Japanese word, represented by two characters: tsu, meaning, “harbor”, and nami meaning, “wave”.
- The tsunami waves behave very differently in deep water than in shallow water as their speed is related to the water depth.
- They frequently occur in the Pacific, where dense oceanic plates slide under the lighter continental plates. When these plates fracture they provide a vertical movement of the seafloor that allows a quick and efficient transfer of energy from the solid earth to the ocean.
Mechanism of Tsunami Waves
- Megathrust earthquakes cause a sudden displacement in a seabed sufficient to cause the sudden raising of a large body of water.
- As the subducting plate plunges beneath the less dense plate, stresses build-up, the locked zone between the plates give way abruptly, and the parts of the oceanic crust is then upthrust resulting in the displacement of a large column of water vertically.
- The tsunami on December 26, 2004, was caused after an earthquake displaced the seabed off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
- A marine volcanic eruption can generate an impulsive force that displaces the water column and gives birth to a tsunami.
- During a submarine landslide, the equilibrium sea-level is altered by sediment moving along the floor of the sea. Gravitational forces then propagate a tsunami.
- Most destructive tsunamis can be caused due to the fall of extra-terrestrial objects on to the earth.
11. Odisha for tweak in OBC law to include castes in State list
Subject :Polity
Section :Msc
Concept :
- The Naveen Patnaik government has introduced Odisha State Commission For Backward Classes (Amendment) Bill, 2023 for inclusion of 22 castes in the State list of Other Backward Classes.
- The amendment would enable the State government to include caste name in the socially and educationally backward classes (SEBC) list.
About OBCs reservation
- Articles 15(4) and 16(4) make special provisions for socially and educationally backward classes of citizens (SEBCs, popularly known as OBCs), the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).
- Currently, for each state, there are two OBC lists, i.e., one for the state and the Centre.
- So, a caste included in the OBC list of a state enjoys the reservation benefits in state government jobs and educational institutions, but not with respect to central government jobs or educational institutions.
Historical development of the OBCs reservation
- In 1955, the 1st Backward Classes Commission recommended the inclusion of 2,399 castes as OBCs. But, the then central government did not implement the recommendations and implementation of the welfare programs. Therefore, OBC castes have an abysmal representation in central government jobs. But the Centre suggested that state governments may draw up their own lists.
- The second Backward Classes Commission, known as the Mandal Commission, gave its report in 1980. However, the central governments did not implement the recommendation for almost a decade.
- Finally, the V P Singh government decided to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission. Various OBC castes were included in the Central OBC lists. These were those castes and minorities which were common to both the State Lists and the Mandal Commission List.
- The central government introduced a reservation of 27% for OBCs in government jobs on August 13, 1990. The constitutional validity of the reservation was upheld in the Indira Sawhney case. Pursuant to judgment, the National Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1993 was enacted.
- In Ram Singh and Ors vs Union of India Case (2015), the Central government argued that the inclusion of classes or groups in state OBC lists is a strong and compelling reason for the inclusion of such classes in the central lists. Because, in our constitutional scheme, the Union and state governments need to work in tandem and not at cross purposes. The Supreme Court judgment validated this argument.
Issues related to OBCs reservation
- OBCs are identified differently at the state and central levels. For example, the State OBC list and Central OBC list.
- But the SCs and STs are identified “with respect to any State or Union Territory” and have only one list and one status, both at the level of state and central government.
- The “two-status” castes deny reservations in all these important avenues like IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS, and coveted educational institutions like the IITs, IIMs, AIIMS, and the Central universities.
- Across all the states, there are hundreds of such OBC castes whose members are being denied reservation benefits in central government jobs.
12. House panel calls for a comprehensive national EV policy, extension of Fame II
Subject :Schemes
FAME:
- FAME India is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan. Main thrust of FAME is to encourage electric vehicles by providing subsidies.
- The FAME India Scheme is aimed at incentivising all vehicle segments.
Two phases of the scheme:
- Phase I: started in 2015 and was completed on 31st March, 2019
- Phase II: started from April, 2019, will be completed by 31st March, 2022
- The scheme covers Hybrid & Electric technologies like Mild Hybrid, Strong Hybrid, Plug in Hybrid & Battery Electric Vehicles.
- Monitoring Authority: Department of Heavy Industries, the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.
- Fame India Scheme has four focus Areas:
- Technology development
- Demand Creation
- Pilot Projects
- Charging Infrastructure
Objectives of FAME Scheme:
- Encourage faster adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles by way of offering upfront Incentive on purchase of Electric vehicles.
- Establish a necessary charging Infrastructure for electric vehicles.
- To address the issue of environmental pollution and fuel security.
Salient Features of Phase II:
- Emphasis on electrification of the public transportation that includes shared transport.
- This phase aims to support, through subsidies, approximately 7000 e-Buses, 5 lakh e-3 Wheelers, 55000 e-4 Wheeler Passenger Cars and 10 lakh e-2 Wheelers.
- In 3-Wheel (W) and 4-Wheel (W) segment incentives will be applicable mainly to vehicles used for public transport or registered for commercial purposes.
- In the 2-Wheel (W) segment, the focus will be on the private vehicles.
- To encourage advanced technologies, the benefits of incentives will be extended to only those vehicles which are fitted with advanced batteries like a Lithium Ion battery and other new technology batteries.
- The scheme proposes for establishment of charging infrastructure, whereby about 2700 charging stations will be established in metros, other million plus cities, smart cities and cities of Hilly states across the country so that there will be availability of at least one charging station in a grid of 3 km x 3 km.
- Establishment of Charging stations are also proposed on major highways connecting major city clusters.
- On such highways, charging stations will be established on both sides of the road at an interval of about 25 km each.
Subject :Schemes
PMFBY
- Launched in April, 2016, after rolling back the earlier insurance schemes viz. National Agriculture Insurance Scheme (NAIS), Weather-based Crop Insurance scheme and Modified National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (MNAIS).
- Premium: It envisages a uniform premium of only 2% to be paid by farmers for Kharif crops, and 1.5% for Rabi crops. The premium for annual commercial and horticultural crops will be 5%.
- The scheme was conceived as a milestone initiative to provide a comprehensive risk solution at the lowest uniform premium across the country for farmers.
- Premium cost over and above the farmer share is equally subsidized by States and GoI.
- However, GoI shares 90% of the premium subsidy for the North Eastern States to promote the uptake in the region.
Coverage of Risks and Exclusions:
- Following stages of the crop and risks leading to crop loss are covered under the scheme.
- Prevented Sowing/ Planting Risk: The insured area is prevented from sowing/ planting due to deficit rainfall or adverse seasonal conditions
- Standing Crop (Sowing to Harvesting): Comprehensive risk insurance is provided to cover yield losses due to non-preventable risks, viz. Drought, Dry spells, Flood, Inundation, Pests and Diseases, Landslides, Natural Fire and Lightening, Storm, Hailstorm, Cyclone, Typhoon, Tempest, Hurricane and Tornado.
- Post-Harvest Losses: Coverage is available only up to a maximum period of two weeks from harvesting for those crops which are allowed to dry in cut and spread condition in the field after harvesting against specific perils of a cyclone and cyclonic rains and unseasonal rains.
- Localized Calamities: Loss/ damage resulting from the occurrence of identified localized risks of hailstorm, landslide, and Inundation affecting isolated farms in the notified area.
14. Honey production up 6.56 per cent, exports rose 24% in 2021-22: Tomar
Subject :Schemes
National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM)
- Keeping in view the importance of beekeeping as part of the Integrated Farming System in the country, government approved the allocation for Rs. 500 crore for National Beekeeping & Honey Mission (NBHM) for three years (2020-21 to 2022-23). The mission was announced as part of the AtmaNirbhar Bharat scheme. NBHM aims for the overall promotion & development of scientific beekeeping in the country to achieve the goal of ‘Sweet Revolution’ which is being implemented through National Bee Board (NBB).
- The main objective of NBHM is to promote holistic growth of beekeeping industry for income & employment generation for farm and non-farm households, to enhance agriculture/ horticulture production, developing infrastructural facilities, including setting up of Integrated Beekeeping Development Centre (IBDC)s/CoE, honey testing labs, bee disease diagnostic labs, custom hiring centres, Api-therapy centres, nucleus stock, bee breeders, etc. and empowerment of women through beekeeping.
- Besides, the scheme also aims to create awareness about scientific bee keeping under Mini Mission-I, post-harvest management of beekeeping, beehive products, including collection, processing, storage, marketing, value addition, etc. under Mini Mission-II and Research & Technology generation in beekeeping under Mini Mission-III. Rs 150.00 Crores has been allotted to NBHM for 2020-21.
- Beekeeping is an agro-based activity which is being undertaken by farmers/ landless labourers in rural area as a part of Integrated Farming System (IFS). Beekeeping has been useful in pollination of crops, thereby, increasing income of the farmers/beekeepers by way of increasing crop yield and providing honey and other high value beehive products, viz.; bees wax, bee pollen, propolis, royal jelly, bee venom, etc. Diversified agro climatic conditions of India provide great potential and opportunities for beekeeping/ honey production and export of Honey.
15. RBI central board reviews global, domestic economy
Subject :Economy
Section: Monetary policy
Context: Reserve Bank of India’s central board reviewed the global and domestic eco nomic situation and the associated challenges. The 601st meeting of the Central Board of Directors of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was held at Hyderabad under the chairmanship of Governor Shaktikanta Das
Concept:
- The board, the apex body in the RBI’s organisational structure, is primarily responsible for the oversight of the central bank. The board is appointed by the government under the provisions of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
- The RBI central board’s mandate is, among other things, “to regulate the issue of bank notes and keeping of reserves with a view to securing monetary stability in India and generally to operate the currency and credit system of the country to its advantage; to have a modern monetary policy framework to meet the challenge of an increasingly complex economy, to maintain price stability while keeping in mind the objective of growth.”