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Important topics and their relevance in UPSC CSE exam for August 15, 2024. If you missed the August 14th, 2024 UPSC CSE exam key from the Indian Express, read it here.
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UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II: Government policies and interventions
What’s the ongoing story- After facing intense criticism from a wide range of stakeholders, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting withdrew a fresh draft of the Broadcast Bill which it had privately circulated among a handful of industry stakeholders. The draft had triggered controversy and criticism over fears that the government was trying to exert greater control over online content, by trying to regulate independent creators on platforms like YouTube, Instagram and X.
Prerequisites:
— What is the draft Broadcast Bill?
— What is over the top (OTT)?
— Why government introduce the draft Broadcasting Bill?
— What is the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000?
Key takeaways:
— A major difference of opinion emerged within the bureaucracy of the ministry on whether the Bill should apply to non-news online content creators. As per the draft Bill, such creators would have fallen under the category of OTT broadcasters.
— Reasons for government trying to regulate independent news creator: A senior government official said one key reason behind the significant expansion of scope in the current draft Bill compared … has been the “role a number of independent content creators played in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls”.
— “There were a number of instances where creators made videos on current affairs which made some sensational claims about the government and its senior leaders in the run up to the elections…” the official said.
— The Bill, which sought to replace the 1995 Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, deals with television broadcasting.
— The new draft Bill came under intense criticism after it expanded its remit from OTT content and digital news to include social media accounts and online video creators, sought to define a “digital news broadcaster” in sweeping terms to include independent content creators, and proposed prior registration with the government.
— The latest draft sought to define “digital news broadcasters” to include “publisher of news and current affairs content”, which means any person who broadcasts news and current affairs programmes through an online paper, news portal, website, social media intermediary, or other similar medium as part of a systematic business, professional or commercial activity but excluding replica e-papers.
— This definition could include users on YouTube, Instagram, and even X, who generate advertising revenue through paid subscriptions or monetise their social media accounts through affiliate activities.
— It allowed the government to specify a threshold for the number of subscribers or viewers for OTT broadcasters, who would then have to intimate it of their existence and operations and also adhere to a programme code and an advertisement code.
— These online content creators would have to set up a content evaluation committee (CEC), and “strive to make” the committee diverse by including individuals with knowledge of different social groups
For Your Information:
— After a pushback from several quarters, the government has done well to withdraw the draft Bill. The ministry has said that it ‘is holding a series of consultations with the stakeholders,’ and has allowed them till October 15 to place their comments… This is the right step. Such far reaching regulations, besides being undesirable, will also be difficult to implement. The government must listen to all stakeholders before it goes forward with this bill.
— Regulating content on the internet presents inherent challenges due to the global, decentralised nature of the web. Unlike traditional media, the internet hosts a far greater number of creators and influencers, there is a lot more content being generated, and the dissemination of this content transcends national boundaries, making jurisdictional enforcement complex and often impractical.
— Attempts to impose stringent regulations — what the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) seems to be doing through the current Bill — can lead to serious consequences. If the government is concerned about fake news or harmful/misleading content, other mechanisms need to be leveraged, like the IT Act 2000, which already provides for a flagging and takedown regime.
Points to Ponder:
— What are the criticisms of the draft Broadcasting Bill, 2024?
— How to draw a balance between individuals content creator and to ensure equality in broadcasting?
— How has the freedom of speech and expression been protected by the Constitution?
Post Read Question:
(1) 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
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
On broadcast bill, government’s welcome step back
Big Brother is binge-watching: How proposed law may censor online content
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II: Polity, Constitution
What’s the ongoing story- The Delhi High Court on Tuesday (August 13) directed the Centre to clarify its stance on non-consensual sexual offences against LGBTQIA+ persons and men under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). The new criminal law came into force on July 1, 2024, and replaced the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).
Prerequisites:
— What is Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and new crimes under it?
— What does LGBTQIA+ stand for?
Key takeaways:
— The development has come nearly six years after the Supreme Court in Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India decriminalised homosexuality by ruling that Section 377 (unnatural offences) of the IPC does not punish people in same-sex relationships. This provision punished anyone who “voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal”. Though the SC reinterpreted the provision, Section 377 remained in the text of the IPC until the BNS came into force — where it was deleted entirely.
— On the other hand, Section 377 (while it was still on the books) severely punished non-consensual intercourse “with any man, woman or animal”. Offenders could be punished with imprisonment for life and a fine.
— In 2018, the SC delivered its verdict on the challenge to Section 377. It referred to those areas of the section that criminalised consensual unnatural sex as “irrational, indefensible and manifestly arbitrary”. The court also noted that Section 377 was used as a weapon to harass members of the LGBTQIA+ community, resulting in discrimination against them.
— “Section 377 is arbitrary. The LGBT community possesses rights like others. Majoritarian views and popular morality cannot dictate constitutional rights,” the court said. However, the court clarified that its judgement was limited to decriminalising consensual sex between adults.
— In its 2023 report on the BNS, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs recommended retaining Section 377 in the BNS. It said, “Following this decision (in Navtej Singh Johar), section 377, IPC is now applied to prosecute only non-consensual sexual acts…[I]n the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, no provision for non-consensual sexual offence against male, female, transgender and for bestiality has been made.”
For Your Information:
— Alternative protections under the BNS
1. Section 36 of the BNS provides every person with the “right of private defence” to protect their own body or the body of another person “against any offence affecting the human body”. This right also extends to protecting property from the offences of “theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass”.
2. Section 38 details the situations where this right allows the “voluntary causing of death or of any other harm to the assailant”. This includes situations where a person is faced with “an assault with the intention of committing rape” or “an assault with the intention of gratifying unnatural lust”. Unlike the offence of rape, these provisions are not limited to women or any specific gender.
3. Section 140 also punishes kidnapping or abduction where the victim is “subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to the unnatural lust of any person”. However, in both cases (private defence and kidnapping) the phrase “unnatural lust” has not been defined.
— In line with an undertaking given six months ago when the Supreme Court declined to grant legal recognition to same-sex marriages, the Centre notified a committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary “to examine the various issues relating to queer community.”
Points to Ponder:
— From sedition to fake news to mob lynching, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Bill, 2023 brings in several changes to the IPC, which it aims to replace. Discuss.
— The new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has 358 sections, compared to the 511 in the Indian Penal Code. Therefore, the longstanding numbering of many criminal charges listed in the IPC has changed. Discuss a few from the list.
Post Read Question:
(2) Which of the following cases is related to Section 377 of IPC?
(a) Lily Thomas v. Union of India
(b) Navtej Singh Johar v. Union of India
(c) Puttuswammy Case
(d) M.C Mehta v. Union of India
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Indian Penal Code to Nyaya Sanhita: What’s new, what is out, what changes
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II, GS-III: Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora; Economy
What’s the ongoing story- Aimed at increasing exports to Russia amid widening trade deficit with the country, the Reserve Bank of India is in talks with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation to work out a currency exchange rate, a government official said on Wednesday.
Prerequisites:
— What is the Exchange Rate?
— What is the status of India-Russia bilateral trade?
— Which country is the biggest supplier of crude oil to India?
Key takeaways:
— This comes as Russia has rapidly ascended to become India’s top oil supplier, but Indian exports to Russia have struggled, resulting in a $57 billion trade deficit in the bilateral trade worth $66 billion in FY24. The gap has resulted in Moscow seeking yuan due to its rising demand for Chinese goods.
— An exchange rate is essential for the two countries to settle trade without using the dollar. Currency challenges come due to the trade imbalance between the two countries. In contrast, Russia-China bilateral trade has crossed a record $240 billion in 2023.
— “Currently there is no exchange mechanism between rouble and rupee. Now there is only cross currency reference which is happening right now. That adds a layer of additional premium so the idea is to avoid that. That will happen only when the two currencies are traded freely at the same exchange rate without referencing,” the official said.
— “Dynamic exchange rate could help push the trade from $4.5 billion to $45 billion. If you want your rupee vostro accounts to be actually functional a direct exchange rate is required. Normally, barring euro and dollar any other exchange mechanism is via a referencing mechanism which is either a dollar or euro,” the official said.
For Your Information:
— Russia has rapidly ascended to become India’s top oil supplier, but Indian exports to Russia have struggled, resulting in a $57 billion trade deficit in the bilateral trade worth $66 billion in FY24.
— The biggest challenge in boosting Indian exports to Russia has been the reluctance of private banks to facilitate trade with Russia due to fears of Western sanctions. Most private banks have significant business interests in Western countries and multiple branches that could face sanctions imposed by the European Union (EU) and the US.
Points to Ponder:
— What are the initiatives taken by India to reduce its dependency on oil imports?
— What are the areas of cooperation between India and Russia?
— What are the challenges faced by India in seizing the export opportunities emerging in Russia?
Post Read Question:
(3) With reference to the Indian economy, consider the following statements: (UPSC CSE 2022)
1. An increase in the Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) indicates the appreciation of rupee.
2. An increase in the Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) indicates an improvement in trade competitiveness.
3. An increasing trend in domestic inflation relative to inflation in other countries is likely to cause an increasing divergence between NEER and REER.
Which of the above statements are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
How India-Russia trade gap may threaten rupee internationalisation efforts
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS- III: Indian Economy
What’s the ongoing story- In a decision replete with financial consequences for mining companies, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday gave limited retrospective effect to its recent judgment upholding the power of states to levy tax on mineral rights and mineral-bearing land, allowing them to collect tax arrears from April 1, 2005 onwards, but without any interest or penalty.
Prerequisites:
— What are the taxes levied and collected by states?
Key takeaways:
— While Entry 49 of List II concerns “taxes on lands and buildings”, Entry 50 of List II concerns “taxes on mineral rights subject to any limitations imposed by Parliament by law relating to mineral development”.
— The July 25 judgment overruled the 1989 decision of a 7-judge Bench in India Cement Ltd vs State of Tamil Nadu which said royalty is tax and state legislatures lack competence to levy taxes on mineral rights because the subject matter is covered by the Minerals and Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, enacted by Parliament in exercise of powers under Entry 54 of List I (Union List) of the Constitution.
For Your Information:
— The April 1, 2005, cut off was fixed keeping in mind the ruling of an SC Constitution Bench in January 2004 which said that royalty is not a tax and that the power to levy tax on mineral rights vests with the state legislatures and is subject to any limitations laid down by Parliament by law.
Post Read Question:
(4) Which of the following tax has not been replaced by GST?
(a) Excise Duty
(b) Entertainment Tax
(c) Octroi Tax
(d) Mining Tax
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: Space technology, Important contributions of Indians in Science and Technology
What’s the ongoing story- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will launch the third development flight — the last one it is authorised to undertake — of the small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV), earth observation satellite EOS-08, on August 16.
Prerequisites:
— What is a small satellite launch vehicle (SSLV)?
— What are the advantages of using SSLV?
Key takeaways:
—The small vehicle — capable of carrying only up to 500 kg to space — was developed by ISRO with the aim of commercialising it.
— Globally, there is a growing demand for small launch vehicles that can be quickly assembled on demand to launch scores of small and micro-satellites to be placed in low earth orbit.
— ISRO is presently in the process of transferring the technology to private parties for commercial flights. At least six companies have expressed interest in acquiring the technology.
— ISRO authorities say the chosen private business will carry out all future SSLV flights. ISRO’s commercial branch, New Space India Limited (NSIL), has signed an agreement to launch an Australian satellite on board a commercially operated SSLV in the future. The Australian startup Space Machines startup plans to launch a satellite into space that can repair other satellites in orbit.
For Your Information:
— The primary goals of the EOS-08 mission are to design and develop a microsatellite, create payload sensors compatible with the microsatellite bus, and incorporate new technologies needed for future operational spacecraft.
— EOS-08 is based on the Microsat/IMS-1 bus and contains three payloads: EOIR, GNSS-R, and SiC UV Dosimeter. The Electro Optical Infrared Payload (EOIR) is intended to take images in mid- and long-wave infrared during the day and night.
— The information can be utilised for surveillance, disaster monitoring, environmental monitoring, fire detection, volcanic activity observation, and industrial and power plant disaster monitoring.
— The vehicle is only 2 metres in diameter and 34 metres long. It uses three solid fuel-based stages and a final liquid-fuel based stage to correct the velocity for placing small and micro satellites in orbit.
— The spacecraft’s mission configuration is scheduled to fly in a Circular Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at 475 km height and 37.4° inclination, with a one-year mission life.
(Other Source: http://www.isro.gov.in)
Points to Ponder:
— Know more about New Space India Limited (NSIL)
— Other SSLV missions of ISRO
Post Read Question:
(5) With reference to the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), consider the following statements:
1. It can carry a payload of up to 500 kg.
2. It uses only a liquid-fuel-based stage to place small and micro satellites in orbit.
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
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
ISRO’s SSLV-D2 launch: The mini vehicle’s second flight, with promise on board
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: Applications of scientific developments in everyday life
What’s the ongoing story- The first phase III clinical trial for dengue vaccine in India was kickstarted on Wednesday, with the first person receiving a shot at Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak. The trial will be conducted at 19 sites across 18 states and Union Territories. It will follow 10,335 healthy adults for a period of two years. The trial is primarily funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research, with the company partially bearing the expenses.
Prerequisites:
— What is dengue and it spreads through which mosquito?
— Symptoms of dengue
Key takeaways:
— The vaccine called DengiAll, which works against all four serotypes of dengue, has been developed by Panacea Biotech.
— The Union Health Minister JP Nadda said, “The initiation of this Phase 3 clinical trial for India’s first indigenous dengue vaccine marks a critical advancement in our fight against dengue. It reflects our commitment to protecting our citizens from this pervasive disease and underscores India’s capabilities in vaccine research and development.”
— Panacea’s vaccine uses live, weakened versions of all four dengue serotypes. These weakened versions of the virus were developed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in the US— they deleted parts of the genetic code of DENV1, DENV3, and DENV4 and then genetically engineered a DENV2 backbone using parts from the weakened DENV 4, on which the others were tacked.
— One of the biggest challenges with developing a dengue vaccine is that the four serotypes of the infection offer very little protection against each other, meaning one individual can be infected repeatedly with different serotypes. More importantly, it can lead to antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) — a person with low levels of antibodies against one serotype of dengue, getting a more severe infection with another serotype.
— ADE was the reason for controversy surrounding the first dengue vaccine in the world.
For Your Information:
Which tests are used to detect dengue?
— IgM and IgG antibodies test and NS1 antigen test. Both are done through ELISA kits and hence are popularly known as Elisa test.
— IgM and IgG test for dengue antibodies detected in an initial blood sample, meaning that it is likely that the person became infected with dengue virus within recent weeks. This test is normally done after 3-7 days of fever while NS1 antigen test is a test for dengue, which allows rapid detection on the first day of fever, before antibodies appear.
Symptoms: The onset of dengue fever is usually a sudden rise in temperature lasting 2-7 days and commonly associated with headache, flushing, retro-orbital pain and/or rash, myalgia, weakness, rash and itching. Hemorrhagic manifestation (petechiae and positive tourniquet test).
— The disease has a seasonal pattern, i.e., the peak comes after monsoon and it is not uniformly distributed throughout the year. Dengue virus is transmitted through the bite of a female Aedes (Ae.) mosquito. Aedes is a day time feeder and can fly up to a limited distance of 400 metres. Dengue mosquitoes can’t breed once the temperature falls below 16 degrees.
Points to Ponder:
— Which symptoms indicate that the patient is improving or deteriorating?
— Government initiatives
— What are the warning signs that a patient needs hospitalisation?
— Treatment for dengue
Post Read Question:
(6) With reference to the dengue, consider the following statements:
1. It spreads through anopheles mosquitoes.
2. IgM and IgG tests are done to detect dengue.
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
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
Explained: Dengue fever, how it spreads and how it can be controlled
Vaccine trials: 10,000 to take dengue jab across country
UPSC Syllabus:
Preliminary Examination: Current events of national and international importance
Mains Examination: GS-II, III: Government policies and interventions, Security
What’s the ongoing story- The Indian Army is set to procure an advanced version of the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction system (MK IIA) to counter the growing threats from unmanned aerial systems, particularly along the western and northern borders.
Prerequisites:
— Read about the Integrated Drone Detection and Interdiction system (MK IIA).
— Why modernisation of armed forces is the need of the hour?
— What are the emerging technologies having scope of greater use in the military?
Key takeaways:
— As per the Army, the proposed system should have a surveillance, detection and tracking capability, microprocessor for computing a targeting solution and a LASER weapon system for hard kill or destruction and jamming capability for soft kill or denial. A Request for Information (RFI) was published last month by the Army to seek details about the system from prospective vendors.
— The fresh RFI comes within months after the Army inducted indigenous integrated drone detection and interdiction systems in the northern border along the China border in the northern sector and is reflective of the efforts to develop and procure counter drone systems in the wake of an increase in threats from enemy unmanned aerial systems.
— Developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Bharat Electronics, the Army Air Defence had got seven of these systems, five of which were inducted for deployment close to the northern borders. These systems too had both soft and hard kill options.
— Apart from these indigenous systems, other improvised systems with different counter-UAS capabilities have been deployed by the Armed Forces. This includes prototypes of laser-based systems developed indigenously with Army Air Defence, improvised versions of ZU-23 and L/70 guns for drone detection and killing, ad-hoc handled jammers, low-level lightweight radars, among others. The Armed Forces have inducted anti-drone systems from Indian private firms and the Israeli SMASH 2000 plus systems to tackle enemy drone threats.
Points to Ponder:
— What are the reforms introduced in the defence sector in India?
— What are the challenges to India’s security?
— What steps have been taken by the government for the modernisation of armed forces?
— What are the challenges associated with the modernisation of armed forces?
Post Read Question:
Terrorist activities and mutual distrust have clouded India-Pakistan relations. To what extent the use of soft power like sports and cultural exchange could help generate goodwill between the two countries. Discuss with suitable examples. (UPSC CSE 2015)
Other Important Articles Covering the same topic:
To navigate through ‘turbulent times’, India must invest in modernisation of armed forces: IAF chief
| Prelims Answer Key |
| 1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (b) |
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