UPSC Key: India-US relations, CPCB report on river pollution, and digital arrest

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests, Indian economy.

What’s the ongoing story: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed a “range of bilateral and international issues of current concern” as they met in New York on Monday — their first meeting after the Donald Trump administration doubled the tariff on Indian imports to 50 per cent as “penalty” for purchase of Russian oil, and days after the US increased the H-1B visa fee to $100,000.

Key Points to Ponder:

— How have India-US relations evolved?

— What are the areas of cooperation between India and the US?

— What are India’s import and export trends with regard to the US?

— Read about the imposition of a 50% tariff by the US on India. 

— What is the H-1B visa programme? How have Indians benefited from the H-1B visa?

— Why is the recent increase in the H-1B visa fee a matter of concern for India?

— Read about the India-US trade deal negotiations.

Key Takeaways:

— Sources said the hour-long meeting, on the sidelines of the high-level 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), was “positive”, as they discussed all issues in a candid manner. They also agreed to continue to engage so that they can make progress on “priority areas”.

— Considering that this was their first face-to-face meeting since July — when they met in Washington DC for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting — Jaishankar and Rubio had a lot of ground to cover, as many issues have cropped up in the last couple of months, sources said.

— The India-US trade deal, which was almost agreed upon by the two sides, fell apart at the last minute, and the conversation at the political level seeks to give a push to the negotiations.

— The technical-level negotiations will be carried forward by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who is also in the US this week, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

— The Jaishankar-Rubio meeting sought to give a political understanding, as the commerce and trade negotiators work on the specifics of the deal.

— The meetings come close on the heels of a conversation between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 16 — the US President called up Modi to wish him on the eve of his 75th birthday. Earlier that day, India and the visiting US team held day-long trade talks — later described by both sides as “positive”.

— This was the first conversation between Modi and Trump since the bilateral chill set in last month, after Trump doubled tariffs on India to 50 per cent. Significantly, both Modi and Trump talked of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in their posts on social media after the phone call.

— The first signs of a possible thaw came on September 6, when Trump said the two countries have a “special relationship” and “there is nothing to worry about”. Hours later, Modi responded that he “deeply” appreciated and “fully” reciprocated “President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of bilateral ties.”

Do You Know:

— The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire immigrant workers in specialty occupations that require “a high level of skill” and “at least a bachelor’s degree”, according to the US Department of Labour. 

— The program was started in 1990, with the intention of helping “employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the US workforce by authorising the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorised to work in the United States”.

— The initial validity of the H-1B visa is up to three years. It can be extended once, for another three years, giving a total of up to six years in most cases.

— Currently, there is an annual numerical limit (regular cap) of 65,000 new statuses/ visas under this program each fiscal year, with an extra 20,000 visas available to those with a master’s degree or higher from a US university.

— Notably, he tUS is India’s largest trade partner, with bilateral trade reaching almost $120 billion in FY24 — slightly higher than India’s China trade. However, unlike China, India’s trade relationship with the US is favourable, which makes the US a vital source of foreign exchange.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍 Why the visa roadblock will cast shadow on trade talks in US next week

📍UPSC Issue at a Glance | Tariff war: 4 Key Questions You Must Know for Prelims and Mains

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:

(1) With reference to the H-1B visas, consider the following statements:

1. The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire immigrant workers in specialty occupations.

2. It is non-renewable.

3. There is no capping in H-1B visas.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Previous year UPSC Mains Questions Covering similar theme:

‘What introduces friction into the ties between India and the United States is that Washington is still unable to find for India a position in its global strategy, which would satisfy India’s National self-esteem and ambitions’. Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC CSE 2019)

 

EXPRESS NETWORK

CPCB report: Marginal dip in polluted in polluted river stretches across India, most in Maharashtra

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: Polluted river stretches in India have decreased marginally from 311 to 296, with a reduction in most polluted stretches as well, according to a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) assessment report released Monday.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are the reasons for river pollution in India?

— What is the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)?

— What are the steps needed to be taken for river rejuvenation?

— What are the initiatives taken by the government?

— What is the impact of polluted rivers on human health?

— What is the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme?

— What is the legal framework and policy response towards river pollution?

Key Takeaways:

— The CPCB reviewed water quality data from 2022 and 2023, covering 2,116 locations, and found that 296 river stretches were polluted on 271 rivers across 32 states and Union Territories. Maharashtra continues to have the highest number (54) of polluted river stretches. 

— The previous assessment for identifying polluted stretches was carried out in 2022, using data from 2019 and 2021, while 2020 was omitted due to the pandemic.

— A polluted river stretch refers to two or more polluted locations on a river in a continuous sequence. Stretches where the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) exceeds 3 milligrams/litre (mg/L) are identified as polluted stretches by CPCB. 

— BOD in excess of prescribed levels indicates a higher pollution load, especially for the health of aquatic life.

— There are five such priority categories, with Priority Class V, with BOD level of 3.1-6 mg/L, indicating the least pollution and in need of low intervention. BOD levels less than 3 mg/L are considered fit for bathing.

— Stretches with BOD concentrations exceeding 30 mg/L are categorised as Priority I or the most polluted stretches. Out of 296 stretches identified as polluted, 37 were classified as the most polluted, or Priority I. This number has also seen a slight drop from 46 in the previous report.

— These 37 stretches were identified across 14 states, with the highest number, five, in Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand; four in Gujarat, and three in Karnataka.

— Among the more prominent rivers where stretches were identified to have deteriorated in quality were Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir; Ganga, Ramrekha and Sikrahna in Bihar; Hasdeo, Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh; Sal and Mapusa in Goa; Cauvery, Tungabhadra in Karnataka; Periyar in Kerala, and Amba and Savitri in Maharashtra. It also included stretches on Krishna in Telangana and Kosi in Uttarakhand.

— In 2018, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance of the CPCB’s river pollution assessment based on news reports and ordered states and the Centre to prepare action plans for rejuvenation.

— According to the CPCB’s latest report, river rejuvenation committees were formed to develop action plans and reduce pollution. The CPCB has directed states to focus on river catchment and basin management, floodplain protection, and the treatment of sewage water.

Do You Know:

— The industrial effluents are one among several other reasons behind river pollution. Some of the other reasons for the cause of River pollution are:

— Untreated sewage: Among all the anthropogenic sources, untreated sewage remains the primary reason behind river pollution in India. According to the CPCB, more than 60% of untreated sewage water is released into rivers daily, which makes the water unsafe and creates serious problems for the local population and aquatic ecosystem. 

— Untreated industrial effluents: After untreated sewage, untreated industrial effluents are a major cause of river pollution. Industries such as those producing chemicals, sugar, paper, and tanneries generate wastewater that contains toxic chemicals, which poses serious risks and potentially fatal consequences in some cases.

— Municipal solid waste: Another major factor is municipal solid waste. Due to inadequate waste management facilities and ineffective enforcement of waste management regulations, millions of tons of solid waste are dumped directly into water bodies every year. It not only impedes river flow but also damages the aquatic ecosystem. 

— Agricultural runoff: Agricultural runoff further contributes to river pollution. It contains pesticides and fertilisers, which introduce toxic chemicals into the water. The nutrients like nitrogen in the runoff can also cause eutrophication – a process that depletes oxygen in the water and thereby increases the BOD of the river. 

— Sand mining and illegal encroachment: Furthermore, sand mining and illegal encroachment are also becoming significant contributors to river pollution. These activities disrupt the natural flow of rivers, increase the risk of flooding in local areas, and add to river pollution due to inadequate waste management facilities. 

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Rivers in peril: How pollution endangers India’s water lifelines

📍Yamuna’s pollution worsens, bacteria levels 4,000 times the safe limit: Report

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(2) Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a standard criterion for (UPSC CSE 2017)

(a) Measuring oxygen levels in blood

(b) Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems.

(c) Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems

(d) Assessing oxygen levels in high altitude regions.

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India? (UPSC CSE 2013)

 

EXPLAINED

Too loud to ignore: Why Indians should care about noise pollution in cities

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: General issues on Environmental Ecology, Biodiversity and Climate Change – that do not require subject specialisation.

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

What’s the ongoing story: If there is one health hazard that has crept up unacknowledged on Indian cities, it is noise. Legally, it is already recognised as an air pollutant under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Medically, it is among the leading contributors to hypertension, sleep disruption, stress disorders, and cognitive decline — conditions that together shorten lives and push people toward premature death.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Know about the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

— What is the definition of noise pollution according to WHO and India’s Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules?

— What is the decibel scale?

— What do you understand by this statement- the right to quiet must not be a privilege — it must be a baseline condition of public health?

— What are the laws related to noise pollution in India?

— What is the impact of noise pollution on human health?

— What steps need to be taken to curb noise pollution?

— What is the role and function of the Central Pollution Control Board in curbing noise pollution?

Key Takeaways:

— Most towns and cities in India routinely endure noise levels far above what is safe.

— The World Health Organization recommends residential daytime exposure not exceed 55 dB(A) — roughly the volume of a normal conversation. India’s Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000 set similar limits: 55 dB from 6 am to 10 pm, and 45 dB at night.

— But the decibel scale is not linear: a 10 dB increase means a ten-fold rise in intensity. Traffic corridors in Indian cities often exceed 70 dB(A).

— And, as with air pollution, the burden of this unchecked exposure falls heaviest on those least able to shield themselves — street vendors, delivery workers, traffic police, and residents of informal settlements. For them, the roar of the city is not an occasional nuisance but an everyday occupational hazard that slowly erodes health and well-being.

— Noise monitoring is sparse, enforcement weak, and responsibility scattered across multiple authorities. As with air quality, symbolic fixes — occasional honking bans or festival crackdowns — do little to tackle structural drivers. The result: a chronic, unaddressed public health crisis.

— This neglect stems from three failures.First, inadequate monitoring leaves policymakers blind. Unlike air pollution, where satellites and low-cost sensors have transformed measurement, noise data in India are sporadic, reactive, and incomplete.

— Second, structural and cultural barriers hinder enforcement. Without recognition that noise can be as harmful as smog, many citizens tolerate or even participate in noisy practices.

— Third, governance is fragmented: pollution control boards, municipalities, and police all have partial jurisdiction, limited resources, and weak incentives to act.

— What must be done? First, treat noise on par with air and water pollution. Researchers and policymakers should design evidence-based interventions grounded in public-health data.

— Urban planning must incorporate noise mitigation. Green buffers such as trees and parks absorb sound, while zoning can shield residential areas from high-intensity noise corridors.

— While limited experiments with green belts for noise-reduction are promising, broader efforts must be scientifically assessed and community-informed.

— Governance reforms are essential. Noise regulations must be enforceable, backed by transparent data and accountability. Agencies must collaborate across sectors — from pollution boards to transport departments and municipalities. 

— Awareness campaigns and partnerships with religious and community leaders can reshape norms without alienating communities.

— India has already learned, painfully, that neglecting air pollution magnifies harm and widens inequity. We cannot repeat the same mistake with noise. The law already names it an air pollutant; what is missing is the political and civic will to act.

— By treating noise with the seriousness it deserves — integrating it into clean-air agendas, embedding it in urban planning, and making it a priority for public health — we can save lives, protect communities, and reclaim the basic human right to quiet.

Do You Know:

— Noise pollution from railway operations has been impacting all railway-adjacent urban slums in Delhi. The levels have surpassed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) norms — and in some cases, exceeded limits by as much as 85 per cent.

— A study published in the BMJ Journal in December 2024 has linked exposure to two common environmental factors — air pollution and road traffic noise — to infertility in men and women.  

— It further added, “Among women, noise was associated with a higher risk of infertility in the 35-45 age group, whereas no association was observed in the 30-34.9 age group.”

— The link between road traffic noise and infertility, particularly in women over 35, highlights the impact of environmental stress on reproductive health, says Dr Suri Raju. Prolonged noise exposure triggers several biological mechanisms that can affect fertility:

— Chronic Stress: Continuous noise above 55 decibels activates the stress response, raising cortisol levels, which can disrupt reproductive hormones like oestrogen and progesterone. This may lead to irregular menstrual cycles or conditions like anovulation (absence of ovulation) and amenorrhea (absence of menstruation).

— Sleep Disruption: Noise pollution affects sleep, reducing melatonin levels, which are crucial for ovarian function and fertility. For women over 35, this exacerbates age-related fertility decline.

— Oxidative Stress and Inflammation: Noise increases oxidative stress and inflammation, potentially harming egg quality and endometrial receptivity. It can also contribute to conditions like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which impact fertility.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Air pollution causes male infertility while prolonged exposure to road traffic noise causes female infertility: Study

📍‘Like standing next to a chainsaw’: Delhi slums near railway lines bear the brunt of loud trains

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(3) How is the National Green Tribunal (NGT) different from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)? (UPSC CSE 2018)

1. The NGT has been established by an Act whereas the CPCB has been created by an executive order of the Government.

2. The NGT provides environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts whereas the CPCB promotes cleanliness of streams and wells, and aims to improve the quality of air in the country.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

GST 2.0: What changes

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national importance, Economic and social development.

Mains Examination: General Studies- II, III: Government policies and interventions, Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilisation of resources, growth, development and employment.

What’s the ongoing story: An exemption for Indian bread by any name — roti, paratha, khakhra — or for health and life insurance for individuals, to sharp tax rate cuts for beauty and well-being services to 5 per cent from 18 per cent or aspirational goods such as air conditioners, refrigerators and big TV screens to 18 per cent from 28 per cent, a wide range of goods and services of a person’s consumption basket have been touched as part of the reforms under GST 2.0.

Key Points to Ponder:

— Read about the Goods and Services Tax (GST). 

— What are the key GST 2.0 institutional reforms?

— What is the objective of introducing next-generation reforms?

— What are the various tax slabs before and after the reform?

— What is inverted duty structure (IDS)?

— What is input tax credit?

— How will the new GST rates boost consumption and benefit the Indian economy?

— What is the role and function of the GST council?

— How are decisions taken in the GST council?

Key Takeaways:

— Effective Monday (September 22), the rate rejig also seeks to resolve classification disputes by placing similar goods in the same rate slab to avoid issues such as how to tax roti or parotta or salted or caramelised popcorn, along with attempting to majorly correct the inverted duty structure, wherein the tax rate on output supply is lower than the tax rate on inputs.

— The rate rejig for the eight-year-old consumption-based tax has been done across sectors such as agriculture, textiles, fertilisers, health, construction, transport and renewable energy. 

— Termed as GST Bachat Utsav by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, the rate rationalisation is meant to leave more disposable income in the hands of people, which is seen spurring household consumption and which in turn could incentivise investments.

— The government has also placed its bet on the potential consumption boost as it expects it will help it offset the revenue loss arising from the rate cuts on over 375 items.

— The GST regime, rolled out in July 2017, subsumed 17 indirect taxes and 13 cesses, has seen over a dozen rounds of rate tweaks so far. But this round of reforms focused on a major restructuring of GST slabs.

— The multiple slabs – 5 per cent, 12 per cent, 18 per cent and 28 per cent – were replaced with a broad two-slab structure – a merit rate of 5 per cent and a standard rate of 18 per cent – in addition to a special demerit rate of 40 per cent for sin and demerit goods such as pan masala, tobacco and cigarettes.

— The 12 per cent GST slab, which has been removed for all other items, continues to be retained for one category of goods — bricks. Bricks, except sand like bricks, have been retained in the 12 per cent slab with input tax credit.

— Services have also been in focus in this rate rationalisation process. Welfare services like health and life insurance for individuals have been exempt from 18 per cent GST earlier. Hotels with per day tariff rate of below or equal to Rs 7,500 have seen a cut in GST rate to 5 per cent without ITC from 12 per cent with ITC earlier. Salons and well-being services such as spas have also seen a reduction in the GST rate to 5 per cent from 18 per cent.

— Household budgets are expected to get a boost from the GST rate cuts and the ensuing price cuts by companies. Even as the government does not have a legal provision in force to act against profiteering by companies, the Finance Ministry has asked its officers in the field to compile monthly data reports on price change of commodities pre- and post-GST rate rationalisation. 

— The multiplicity of rates had made the GST structure complex, directly impacting the ease of doing business and trade and the cost of living of citizens particularly the poor and the middle class. The plaguing issue of inverted duty structure (IDS) had also affected cash flow and working capital of businesses as they used to seek refunds for the accumulated input tax credit. Even though the IDS is tough to eliminate completely, placing similar items in the same tax bracket is expected to help ease the pressure points for businesses.

— The industry is, however, likely to find some relief on the compliance front. For registration, returns and refund, GST 2.0 seeks to streamline the registration process by making it more technology driven and time bound especially for small businesses and startups. The return filing process stands to benefit as the plan seeks to implement pre-filled returns to reduce manual intervention and mismatches.

Do You Know:

— The GST came into effect in 2017 and was billed as an attempt to simplify the existing tax structure in India, where both the Centre and states levied multiple taxes, and to make it uniform.

— The President set up the GST Council as a joint forum of the Centre and the states, under Article 279A (1) of the amended Constitution. It said that members of the Council include the Union Finance Minister (chairperson), and the Union Minister of State (Finance) from the Centre. Each state can nominate a minister in charge, of finance or taxation or any other minister, as a member.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge Nugget: What is GST Council, and what were key decisions taken during its 56th meeting? Here’s everything you need to know for UPSC exam

📍Explained: What is the GST Council, and what does it do?

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(4) What is/are the most likely advantages of implementing ‘Goods and Services Tax (GST)’? (UPSC CSE 2017)

1. It will replace multiple taxes collected by multiple authorities and will thus create a single market in India.

2. It will drastically reduce the ‘Current Account Deficit’ of India and will enable it to increase its foreign exchange reserves.

3. It will enormously increase the growth and size of the economy of India and will enable it to overtake China in the near future.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

Enumerate the indirect taxes which have been subsumed in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in India. Also, comment on the revenue implications of the GST introduced in India since July 2017. (UPSC CSE 2019)

 

ECONOMY

Eyeing AI data centre boom, India open to encouraging SMR-led nuclear push

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance.

Mains Examination: General Studies-II, III: Government policies and interventions; Indigenization of technology and developing new technology.

What’s the ongoing story: The Centre is open to exploring the use of nuclear energy to power the data centre boom in India, a trend which is already playing out in countries such as the US, since such centres grow exponentially owing to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). 

Key Points to Ponder:

— What are small modular reactors (SMRs)?

— How are SMRs different from traditional nuclear reactors?

— How SMRs can help address the power needs of India’s growing data centre industry?

— Read about India’s civil nuclear program.

— What role can SMRs play in India’s energy security and its transition towards cleaner energy sources?

— What are India’s potential benefits from entering the manufacturing value chain for SMRs?

— What are the challenges faced by India in developing SMRs?

Key Takeaways:

— As part of framing a national policy on data centres, the IT Ministry is understood to have told the industry that it would encourage them to deploy small modular reactors (SMRs) for long-term, reliable and carbon free power supply, as part of their overall energy mix, The Indian Express has learnt.

— Data centres have a massive energy demand. As per the International Energy Agency (IEA), data centre power usage could double by 2026, making the challenge for companies to become net zero or carbon negative by 2030 increasingly unattainable. This has forced companies such as Google and Microsoft — with big stakes in the AI game — to sign deals with nuclear power plants to purchase energy for their data centres.

— Power consumption and related infrastructure costs are a key part of a data centres’ capital and operational expenditure. India’s data centre market is currently estimated to be worth $10 billion, with around $1.2 billion revenue generated in FY24, according to a recent report by Anarock. As per real estate firm JLL, India is expected to add 795 MW of new capacity by 2027, taking the total capacity to 1.8 GW.

— The consideration comes at a time when there’s renewed debate within sections of the government if data centres are an area where India should offer policy incentives, especially given how energy-intensive this sector is and the high capital-low employment intensiveness of this industry.

— While renewables have been the first choice for companies, there are hurdles that green power poses. Nuclear offers a solution, especially since the grid needs new electricity sources to support AI applications and nuclear solutions offer a clean, round-the-clock power source that can tide over the limitations of renewables — not generating power when the sun’s not shining or the wind is not blowing, and absence of adequate storage options to bridge the shortfalls.

— SMRs — small reactors with a capacity of 30MWe to 300 MWe per unit — are increasingly seen as important for nuclear energy to remain a commercially competitive option in the future, especially in the wake of surging power demand from technology companies given the massive incremental electricity requirement coming in from AI machine learning applications and data centres.

— As of now, two SMR projects have reached the operational stage globally. One is an SMR named Akademik Lomonosov floating power unit in Russia that has two-modules of 35 MWe (megawatt electric), which started commercial operations in May 2020. The other is a demonstration SMR project called HTR-PM in China that was grid-connected in December 2021 and is reported to have started commercial operations in December 2023.

— India, too, is working to get into the manufacturing value chain of small reactors, both as a way of fulfilling its commitment to clean energy transition, and bundling SMRs as a technology-led foreign policy pitch.

— Atomic energy has been one of India’s most closed sectors. The set of legal amendments are being seen as a reform push that could help leverage the commercial potential of the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, nearly two decades after it was inked. New Delhi is also keen to package this as part of a broader trade and investment outreach with Washington DC, which could eventually culminate with a trade pact that is currently under negotiation.

Do You Know:

— SMRs are conceptualised in such a way that their systems and components are manufactured in a controlled factory environment and then transported straight to the project site to be installed, which optimises the construction lead time and cuts down the cost of these projects -— two big concerns with regard to traditional large reactor projects.

— They have potential deployment advantages like reduced size of the Emergency Planning Zone (ring fenced areas around the project site) and passive safety system, rendering them relatively safer than larger reactor-based projects. 

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Knowledge Nugget: How is Nuclear Energy Mission and Small Modular Reactors relevant for UPSC Exam?

UPSC Prelims Practice Question Covering similar theme:

(5) Consider the following statements with reference to the small modular reactors:

1. Small modular reactors offer 30-300 MWe power output per unit.

2. Presently, Two SMR projects have reached the operational stage globally.

Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

 

THE CITY (Delhi Edition)

What to do if you face ‘digital arrest’

Syllabus:

Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance. 

Mains Examination: General Studies-III: Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basics of cyber security; money-laundering and its prevention.

What’s the ongoing story:  Last week, a 78-year-old former banker in South Delhi was conned of Rs 23 crore in a ‘digital arrest’ case.

Key Points to Ponder:

— What is ‘digital arrest’?

— What are the reasons for the rise in digital arrest in India?

— What are the steps taken by the government to create awareness against digital arrest?

— What to do when one becomes a victim of cyber fraud?

— What is the role and function of the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C)?

Key Takeaways:

— According to police, scamsters in these cases often prey on unsuspecting individuals with convincing tactics, such as fake job offers, alarming claims about courier packages, mobile numbers being used for terror funding/illegal activities or threats of digital arrest.

— Police officials in the cyber unit said the Department of Telecom has an application called, ‘Sanchar Saathi’, which is available for iOS and Android users.

— A senior cyber official said, “On the app, you can enter your credentials and cross check if your Aadhaar card or your name is being used by any other number. If you find it is so, it can be reported.”

— “When we realise the call could be a scam, most of us disconnect it. Instead, one should report the mobile number on this application to bring it under scrutiny.”

— Officials said if three people report the number, then it is automatically blocked. If 10 people report the number, then the IMEI in use is blocked.

— Police officers also requested victims who fall prey to cyber frauds to report the matter immediately on the 1930 cyber crime portal. “The faster the matter is reported, the better it is,” a senior police officer said.

— In March this year, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) issued an advisory on ‘digital arrests’.

— It detailed the methods used to dupe people, including impersonating officers through IVR calling, intimidation tactics, digital confinement or victims being forced to stay on video calls, often over Skype and WhatsApp, till demands are met and demands for money to conceal proof of ‘illegal activity’.

Do You Know:

— A “Digital Arrest” scam involves fraudsters impersonating law enforcement via video calls, threatening fake arrests to extort money.

— In the majority of cases, online frauds and criminals typically call potential victims and tell them that they have sent or are the intended recipients of a parcel containing illegal goods, drugs, fake passports or any other contraband item. In some cases, the criminals contact relatives or friends of the target and tell them that the target has been found to be involved in a crime or an accident, and is in their custody. 

— The criminals, who often use pictures or identities of police personnel to convey authenticity, usually demand money from the target for a ‘compromise’ and closure of the case. In certain cases, the victims are “digitally arrested”, and forced to stay visible over Skype or other video conferencing platforms to the criminals until their demands are met.

— Cybercriminals are also known to use studios that look like police stations or government offices and to wear uniforms similar to those of law enforcement agencies.

— The I4C, established in 2018, is a department under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) tasked with establishing a national-level coordination centre to address cybercrime-related issues.

— In September 2024, four I4C platforms were inaugurated — the Cyber Fraud Mitigation Centre (CFMC), the ‘Samanvaya’ platform, a Cyber Commandos programme and a Suspect Registry.

Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:

📍Delhi’s biggest ‘digital arrest’ fraud

📍UPSC Knowledge Nugget of the day: Digital Arrest

Previous year UPSC Prelims Question Covering similar theme:

(6) In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents?(UPSC CSE 2017)

1. Service providers

2. Data centres

3. Body corporate

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 2 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Previous year UPSC Mains Question Covering similar theme:

What are the different elements of cyber security ? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy. (UPSC CSE 2022)

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ELSA 3 sinking affected marine life, water quality along south-east Arabian Sea: Report	The sinking of the Liberian-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA 3 off the Kerala coast in May this year caused significant ecological disruption, an investigation report submitted by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) has found. The leakage from the ship has affected the south-eastern Arabian Sea region’s water quality, plankton, benthos, fish eggs and larvae and higher marine life, says the report. Following the investigation, marine experts have flagged the urgent need for sealing the wreck’s fuel compartments. They have requested for a long-term monitoring of the impacted regions to safeguard marine ecosystems and fishery resources. MSC ELSA 3, a 28-year-old vessel, was sailing from Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram to Kochi when it capsized around 25 km southwest of Alappuzha on May 25. Zooplankton was found to contain high levels of petroleum-derived pollutants, experts noted. Tests confirmed bio-accumulation and this has raised concerns about the transfer of these pollutants through the food web to fish and humans.
Earth’s followers in space: Mini-moons and Quasi-moons	The Earth stands alone in the solar system as a habitable world, as far as we know. But that doesn’t mean we don’t get visitors, most often as asteroids. Some even choose to stick around for a while, gaining a moonlike status.The latest of these is an asteroid that astronomers are calling 2025 PN7. Spotted this summer, it has an orbit that’s similar to Earth’s trajectory around the Sun. It is known as a quasi-moon and could be the smallest of its kind, perhaps no longer than 52 feet. Some asteroids near Earth come from the main asteroid belt orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Others are chunks of the Moon, ejected after a major meteorite impact. Earth has several mini-moons and quasi-moons. Mini-moons are objects that orbit our planet, but they make for fickle fans: they tend to swing around Earth only for a few months. One example was 2024 PT5, which joined our planet last fall and then headed its own way at the end of November. Unlike mini-moons, quasi-moons orbit the Sun, not Earth, spending hundreds or thousands of years in lockstep with Earth’s orbit. This protracted proximity makes them good targets for planetary science missions.

 

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