UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 25)

QUESTION 2

What do you understand by stubble burning? Discuss how baler machines would help in managing stubble burning.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

— Underlining keywords gives you an edge over other candidates and enhances presentation of the answer.

— Using flowcharts/tree-diagram in the answers saves much time and boosts your score. However, it should be used logically and only where it is required.

Way forward/ Conclusion

— The ending of the answer should be on a positive note and it should have a forward-looking approach. However, if you feel that an important problem must be highlighted, you may add it in your conclusion. Try not to repeat any point from body or introduction.

— You may use the findings of reports or surveys conducted at national and international levels, quotes etc. in your answers.

Self Evaluation

— It is the most important part of our Mains answer writing practice. UPSC Essentials will provide some guiding points or ideas as a thought process that will help you to evaluate your answers.

THOUGHT PROCESS

You may enrich your answers by some of the following points

QUESTION 1: What is deepfake and how can it be spotted? What is the Centre’s advisory to social media platforms over deepfakes?

Introduction:

— The term “deepfake” is a combination of “deep learning” and “fake.” This software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to overlay a digital composite over an already-existing video (or audio).

— Deepfakes are created by machine learning models, which use neural networks to manipulate images and videos.

— Deepfakes constitute fake content — often in the form of videos but also other media formats such as pictures or audio — created using powerful artificial intelligence tools.

— They are called deepfakes because they use deep learning technology, a branch of machine learning that applies neural net simulation to massive data sets, to create fake content.

Body:

How Deepfakes can be spotted?

Unnatural Eye Movements

— Deepfake videos often exhibit unnatural eye movements or gaze patterns.

Mismatches in Color and Lighting

— Deepfake creators may have difficulty replicating accurate colour tones and lighting conditions.

Compare and Contrast Audio Quality

— Deepfake videos often use AI-generated audio that may have subtle imperfections.

Strange Body Shape or Movement

— Deepfakes can sometimes result in unnatural body shapes or movements.

Artificial Facial Movements

— Deepfake software may not always accurately replicate genuine facial expressions.

Unnatural Positioning of Facial Features

— Deepfakes may occasionally exhibit distortions or misalignments in these features, which can be a sign of manipulation.

Awkward Posture or Physique

— Deepfakes may struggle to maintain a natural posture or physique.

Centre’s advisory to social media platforms over Deepfakes

— The Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) has sent advisories to social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, to take down misleading content generated through artificial intelligence – deepfakes – within 24 hours.

— As per government sources, the advisory has reiterated existing legal provisions that platforms have to follow as online intermediaries. It has mentioned Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, which entails punishment for cheating by personation by using computer resources with imprisonment up to three years and fine up to Rs 1 lakh.

— The advisory have mentioned Rule 3(2)(b) of the Information Technology Rules, under which social media platforms are required to take down content in the nature of impersonation, including artificially morphed images of an individual, within 24 hours of the receipt of a complaint.

— The Centre is also looking to invoke a controversial law that would require WhatsApp to share details about the first originator of a message on account of rising AI-led misinformation on the messaging platform.

Conclusion:

— The technology involved in creating deepfakes holds promise for various domains, including entertainment, education and healthcare.

— However, one must also acknowledge the associated risks, particularly the alarming threat it poses to the personal security and privacy of millions through audio-visual manipulation tactics.

(Source: ‘Deepfake’ video showing Rashmika Mandanna: How to identify fake videos by Ankita Deshkar, UPSC Essentials | One word a day — Deepfakes by Manas Srivastava)

Points to Ponder

Information Technology Act 2000

Right to privacy

Digital Personal Data Protection Bill

Related Previous Year Questions

Use of internet and social media by non-state actors for subversive activities is a major security concern. How have these been misused in the recent past? Suggest effective guidelines to curb the above threat. (2016)

Introduce the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). How does AI help clinical diagnosis? Do you perceive any threat to privacy of the individual in the use of AI in healthcare? (2023)

QUESTION 2: What do you understand by stubble burning? Discuss how baler machines would help in managing stubble burning.

Introduction:

— In late-October and November, farmers in northern India burn off crop debris, a practice known as stubble burning.

— Many farmers burn the leftover plant debris after harvesting rice to prepare their fields for the wheat crop quickly. It is referred to as “paddy stubble burning.”

Body:

Managing Stubble Burning.

— The paddy crop leaves behind stubble on the ground after harvest. Before the next crop is sown, farmers must remove this stubble. Around this time of year, farmers burn their stubble, releasing smoke into the air that ranks among the worst.

— More environment-friendly methods include incorporation of the stubble into the soil using machines such as super seeders (in situ management). However, farmers say this leaves fields vulnerable to insect attacks, necessitating the use of toxic insecticides.

— Balers compress agricultural residue into manageable, transportable bales. Farmers use a tractor-mounted cutter to trim the crop residue prior to using a baler machine. A rake is used to arrange the stubble in straight lines after it has dried for two days. The stubble is then compacted into bales by a tractor-mounted baler machine using netting. These bales are shipped to landfills or factories.

— In fields where balers are used, farmers can immediately plough the field and sow the next crop.

— According to data from Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Punjab has recorded around 50% less stubble burning incidents compared to the same period in 2022.

Conclusion:

— A single baler costs about Rs 14.5 lakh without subsidies — the costs of the rake and cutter are extra, around Rs 2.5-3 lakh.

— Approximately 2,000 baler machines are in use in Punjab and have been for the past ten years. 1,268 of these are heavily subsidised (between 50 and 80 percent) by the Crop Residue Management (CRM) programme of the Centre.

(Source: How baler machines help manage stubble by Anju Agnihotri Chaba, Farm fires down by half in Punjab, but experts say 55% crop not yet harvested by Anju Agnihotri Chaba)

Points to Ponder

Crop Residue Management (CRM) scheme

Ex-situ stubble management programme

In-situ method

Related Previous Year Questions

What is Integrated Farming System? How is it helpful to small and marginal farmers in India? (2022)

What are the major factors responsible for making the rice-wheat system a success? In spite of this success how has this system become bane in India? (2020)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 24)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 23)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 23)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 24)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 23)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 22)

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