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  • National Science Day and CV Raman

    raman

    National Science Day is commemorated on Feb 28 every year to commemorate the bird anniversary of Sir CV Raman.

    National Science Day

    • In 1986, the Government of India, under then PM Rajiv Gandhi, designated February 28 as National Science Day to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the “Raman Effect”.
    • The Raman Effect was the discovery which won physicist Sir CV Raman his Nobel Prize in 1930.

    Who was CV Raman?

    • Raman conducted his Nobel-prize-winning research at IACS, Calcutta.
    • While he was educated entirely in India, Raman travelled to London for the first time in 1921, where his reputation in the study of optics and acoustics was known to physicists such as JJ Thomson and Lord Rutherford.
    • The Raman Effect won scientist Sir CV Raman the Nobel Prize for physics in 1930.
    • It was also designated as an International Historic Chemical Landmark jointly by the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science (IACS).
    • His speciality was the study of vibrations and sounds of stringed instruments such as the Indian veena and tambura, and Indian percussion instruments such as the tabla and mridangam.

    The Raman Effect

    • In 1928, Raman discovered that when a stream of light passes through a liquid, a fraction of the light scattered by the liquid is of a different colour.
    • While Raman was returning from London in a 15-day voyage, he started thinking about the colour of the deep blue Mediterranean.
    • He wasn’t convinced by the explanation that the colour of the sea was blue due to the reflection of the sky.
    • As the ship docked in Bombay, he sent a letter to the editor of the journal Nature, in which he penned down his thoughts on this.
    • Subsequently, Raman was able to show that the blue colour of the water was due to the scattering of the sunlight by water molecules.
    • By this time he was obsessed with the phenomenon of light scattering.

    Observing the effect

    raman

    • The Raman Effect is when the change in the energy of the light is affected by the vibrations of the molecule or material under observation, leading to a change in its wavelength.
    • Significantly, it notes that the Raman effect is “very weak” — this is because when the object in question is small (smaller than a few nanometres), the light will pass through it undisturbed.
    • But a few times in a billion, light waves may interact with the particle. This could also explain why it was not discovered before.
    • In general, when light interacts with an object, it can either be reflected, refracted or transmitted.
    • One of the things that scientists look at when light is scattered is if the particle it interacts with is able to change its energy.

    Real-life applications

    • Raman spectroscopy is used in many varied fields – in fact, any application where non-destructive, microscopic, chemical analysis and imaging is required.
    • Whether the goal is qualitative or quantitative data, Raman analysis can provide key information easily and quickly.
    • It can be used to rapidly characterize the chemical composition and structure of a sample, whether solid, liquid, gas, gel, slurry or powder.

     

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  • Surya Nutan: A Stove of Green Energy Transition

    Stove

    Central Idea

    • The formal launch of the Indian Oil Corporation’s patented solar cook-stove at the India Energy Week 2023 (February 6-8, 2023 in Bengaluru as part of the G-20 calendar of events) by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi must be looked at closely from the point of view of India’s national energy story. While Mr. Modi claimed the stove would soon reach three crore households within the next few years, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri called it a catalyst in accelerating adoption of low-carbon options along with biofuels, electric vehicles, and green hydrogen.

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    Salient features of Surya Nutan solar cook-stove

    • Indoor solar cooking: Surya Nutan is a Stationary, rechargeable, and always kitchen-connected indoor solar cooking.
    • Patented by Indian Oil: This is a patented product designed and developed by Indian Oil R&D Centre, Faridabad.
    • Maximum utilization of solar energy: It offers online cooking mode while charging through the Sun which maximizes the system efficiency and ensures high utilization of energy from Sun.
    • How it will work?: It collects energy from the sun, converts it into heat through a specially designed heating element, stores thermal energy in a scientifically proven thermal battery and reconverts the energy for use in indoor cooking. The energy captured not just covers day time cooking needs of a family of four but also the night meal.
    • Hybrid mode: It works on a Hybrid Mode (i.e. can work on both solar & auxiliary energy source simultaneously) which makes the Surya Nutan a reliable cooking solution for all weather conditions.
    • Minimises heat loss: Insulation design of Surya Nutan minimizes radiative and conductive heat losses.
    • Surya Nutan is available in three different models: The premium model (Breakfast +Lunch+Dinner) of Surya Nutan can cook all the meals for family of four.
    • What will be the cost: Initially, cost of the product is around Rs 12,000 for base model, and Rs. 23,000 for Top Model. However, the cost is expected to reduce substantially with economies of scale. At a price of Rs. 12,000-14,000/- for Top Model, assuming annual consumption of 6-8 LPG cylinders, this product can pay back the buyer in first 1-2 years itself.
    • Inbuilt Safety aspects: All the safety aspects required in any indoor appliances are inbuilt in Surya Nutan.
    • substitute for fossil fuels: The stove, which entails a one-time procurement cost and has zero maintenance, is being touted as a substitute for fossil fuels. It does not have a traditional battery that needs replacement. Also, the solar panel has a 25-year life.
    • Modular system: Surya Nutan is a modular system and can be designed in different sizes as per the requirement.

    India’s national energy story

    • In 1950s, the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) fabricated a solar cooker and state-led hydroelectric power but failed to address rural energy consumption.
    • Parallel efforts to improve the traditional stove proved unsuccessful, such as the Hyderabad Engineering Research Laboratories smokeless chulha.
    • 1980s government launched improved chulhas program to reduce fuelwood consumption and benefit women’s health/finances with 50% subsidy incentive. But the program failed due to construction, maintenance, and corruption issues. Women still rely on chulha despite hazards.
    • Cooking is 80% of rural Indian household’s energy use. 668m people in India use biomass for cooking/lighting, despite LPG scheme success. Fuel price inflation and subsidy withdrawal force women to use chulha with hazards.

    India Energy Week 2023

    • India’s G20 Presidency: India Energy Week 2023 is being organised during India’s G20 Presidency, under the tagline “Growth, Collaboration, Transition”, from 6-8 February 2023 in Bengaluru.
    • Opportunity for India: It provided a unique opportunity to showcase India as both an engine of global economic growth and a driver for global consumption, supported by a conducive and investment-friendly environment, and a skilled workforce.
    • Opportunity for strategic policy making and knowledge sharing: IEW 2023 was an unprecedented opportunity for regional, international leaders and CEOs to come together for strategic policy making and technical knowledge sharing.

    Why In India?

    • India is projected to witness the largest increase in energy demand of any country over the next two decades, as its economy continues to grow and create opportunities for its people to fulfil their potential.
    • India’s share in global energy consumption will rise from 7% to 14% by 2050
    • IEA predicts India will account for 25% of energy demand growth from 2020 to 2040
    • India’s oil and gas demand will triple by 2050
    • Gas consumption to grow threefold by 2030
    • Share of gas in energy mix to rise from 6.3% today to 15% by 2030

    Do you know “THE PANCHAMRIT” (The five-nectar-element commitments)?

    1. Indian Will take its non-fossil energy capacity to 500 GW by 2030.
    2. Indian will meet 50 % of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030.
    3. India will reduce the total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now till 2030.
    4. By 2030, India will reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by less than 45 percent.
    5. By the year 2070, India will achieve the target of net zero

    Conclusion

    • Surya Nutan has the potential to transform our energy security situation, as India currently imports 50% of its LPG requirements. It also reduces India’s CO2 emissions drastically and keeps our citizens insulated from the vagaries of the high international fossil fuel prices. India’s energy transition will play a pivotal role in global energy markets. India Energy Week comes at a critical time, with the challenges of energy security and environmental sustainability impacting long-term energy transition and paths towards decarbonisation.

    Mains Question

    Q. Indian Oil Corporation recently launched the Surya Nutan a solar cook-stove at the India Energy Week 2023. Discuss its salient features and potential benefits for energy security for rural households.

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  • India ranks 42 among 55 countries on International IP Index

    ip

    India ranks 42nd among 55 leading global economies on the International Intellectual Property (IP) Index released by the US Chambers of Commerce.

    International IP Index

    • It is released annually by the US Chamber of Commerce.
    • The index evaluates IP rights in 55 global economies across 50 unique indicators.
    • The indicators include patent and copyright policies to commercialization of IP assets, and ratification of international treaties.
    • The index aims to help nations navigate toward a brighter economic future marked by greater innovation, creativity, and competitiveness.

    Key prospects for India

    • India is ripe to become a leader for emerging markets seeking to transform their economy through IP-driven innovation said the report.
    • Successful IP-based businesses in India include pharmaceutical companies, software firms, and creative industries.

    Key factors contributing to India’s score

    • IP laws
    • Efficiency of its judicial system and
    • Level of enforcement of IP rights

    Challenges faced

    • These are some challenges faced by Indian companies in protecting and monetizing their IP include issues such as-
    1. Counterfeiting
    2. Piracy
    3. Weak enforcement of IP laws

    IP regime in India

    Broadly, the following acts deal with the protection of intellectual property:

    • Trade Marks Act, 1999
    • The Patents Act, 1970 (as amended in 2005)
    • The Copyright Act, 1957
    • The Designs Act, 2000
    • The Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999
    • The Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Layout Design Act, 2000
    • The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Right Act, 2001
    • The Information Technology Act, 2000

    Way forward

    • India must undertake reforms to strengthen IP protection and enforcement, modernizing IP laws, and increasing investment in IP infrastructure.
    • Collaboration between government, industry, and academia is important in improving India’s IP ecosystem/
    • Lessons can be learned from other countries with successful IP regimes, such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea.

     

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  • Are neutrinos their own anti-particles?

    neutrino

    Central idea: The article discusses recent research on the idea that neutrinos might be their own antiparticles, a concept that has been debated in the scientific community for many years.

    What are neutrinos?

    • Neutrinos are fundamental particles that are similar to electrons but have no electric charge.
    • They are one of the most abundant particles in the universe, but they are also one of the most difficult to detect because they interact only very weakly with matter.
    • Neutrinos are created in a variety of natural processes, including nuclear reactions in stars, radioactive decay, and cosmic ray interactions.
    • They are also produced in particle accelerators and nuclear reactors.

    Its types

    • Neutrinos come in three different types or “flavors”:
    1. Electron neutrinos
    2. Muon neutrinos, and
    3. Tau neutrinos
    • Each flavor of neutrino is associated with a different charged lepton (electron, muon, or tau).

    Why study neutrinos?

    • Because they are electrically neutral and interact only weakly with matter, neutrinos can pass through enormous amounts of material without being stopped or deflected.
    • This property makes them useful for studying astrophysical phenomena such as supernovae and the sun’s interior, as well as for exploring the fundamental nature of matter.

    Neutrinos as their own antiparticles

    • Particle physics explains that particles and their antiparticles have opposite properties, and they can annihilate each other when they meet.
    • Neutrinos are fundamental particles that are difficult to detect as they have no electric charge and interact only weakly with matter.
    • The idea that neutrinos could be their own antiparticles is supported by the fact that they are electrically neutral, and they could interact with themselves in a process called neutrinoless double beta decay.

    Substantiation of this

    • The Majorana Demonstrator experiment is designed to detect neutrinoless double beta decay.
    • The experiment has reported some promising results that suggest that neutrinos could indeed be their own antiparticles.

    Significance of this theory

    • If confirmed, the idea that neutrinos are their own antiparticles could have important implications for our understanding of the fundamental nature of matter and the universe as a whole.
    • More research will be needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn, but the results of the Majorana Demonstrator experiment provide some promising evidence for the idea that neutrinos are their own antiparticles.

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  • Upgrades in the ALMA Telescope

    alma

    The Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array (ALMA) — a radio telescope in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile is set to get software and hardware upgrades.

    What is ALMA?

    • ALMA is a state-of-the-art telescope that studies celestial objects at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths which can penetrate through dust clouds.
    • It helps astronomers examine dim and distant galaxies and stars out there.
    • It also has extraordinary sensitivity, which allows it to detect even extremely faint radio signals.
    • The telescope consists of 66 high-precision antennas, spread over a distance of up to 16 km.
    • Each antenna is outfitted with a series of receivers, and each receiver is tuned to a specific range of wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.

    Who operates ALMA?

    • ALMA is operated under a partnership among the United States, 16 countries in Europe, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Chile.
    • Fully functional since 2013, the radio telescope was designed, planned and constructed by US, Japan and EU.

    Why is ALMA located in Chile’s Atacama Desert?

    • ALMA is situated at an altitude of 16,570 feet (5,050 metres) above sea level on the Chajnantor plateau in Chile’s Atacama Desert.
    • The high altitude and low humidity of the site make it an ideal location for a radio telescope, as there is minimal atmospheric interference.
    • Moreover, the desert is the driest place in the world, meaning most of the nights here are clear of clouds and free of light-distorting moisture — making it a perfect location for examining the universe.

    Significant discoveries

    • One of the earliest findings came in 2013 when it discovered starburst galaxies earlier in the universe’s history than they were previously thought to have existed.
    • These newly discovered galaxies represent what today’s most massive galaxies looked like in their energetic, star-forming youth.
    • In 2015, the telescope helped scientists observe a phenomenon known as the Einstein ring, which occurs when light from a galaxy or star passes by a massive object en route to the Earth, in extraordinary detail.

     

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  • Food Security and Energy Crisis In The South Asian neighbourhood

    Central Idea

    • To be sure, the Ukraine-Russia conflict has thrown the energy markets into a crisis in several Global South nations. In addition, the supply cuts by edible-oil exporting countries, alongside the rise in fuel prices, have led to a surge in food prices, making food security a primary concern, especially for the vulnerable sections of society. In addition, China’s COVID-19 surge has dampened global economy, especially in BoB.

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    How the South Asian neighbourhood is in flux?

    • Sri Lanka and Pakistan: Sri Lanka and Pakistan are facing economic headwinds, with the former having gone through a full-blown economic collapse and the latter facing huge external debts, power shortages, and extreme inflation.
    • Bangladesh: The IMF sanctioned a precautionary loan of US $4.7 billion to Bangladesh amidst the precarious macroeconomic situation in the country, with high inflation and volatility of the Bangladeshi Taka.
    • Myanmar: A post-coup Myanmar sees a shutdown of businesses and a massive spike in unemployment.
    • Nepal: Nepal, too, sees widening trade deficits and declining foreign exchange reserves.

    How Russia-Ukraine war challenges Food security?

    • Russia-Ukraine war and the resulting food crisis: Ukraine and Russia play a significant role in the global food supply chains, further affecting low- and middle-income countries and vulnerable populations already grappling with hunger in the post-pandemic world.
    • Wheat suppliers: Since both countries exported more than one-third of the world’s wheat and barley, and about 70 percent of sunflower oil, governments around the world were severely hit as the war stopped exports of around 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain.
    • Agricultural commodities exports to Asia have dried up: An estimated 6 million tons of agricultural commodities were exported monthly to Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. As of June 2022, this number had dried up to a fifth of its original value.
    • Ripple effects on food prices and availability: According to the United Nations’ (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), global food prices have risen by 20 percent. It further predicts a rise in the undernourished population to be between 7.6 to 13.1 million, because of the conflict situation and its ripple effects on food prices and availability.

    Sri Lanka: A case of Food security crisis

    • The economic meltdown in Sri Lanka wreaked havoc on the food security of the local population.
    • For Sri Lanka, the sudden switch to organic farming in 2021 worsened its trade performance in the agricultural sector.
    • The island nation had to import sugar, rice, and various other commodities, including intermediate goods in which the economy had had a previous surplus.
    • By 2022, the tea industry, which was a major commodity of exchange, incurred losses of approximately US $425 million, further worsening the economy’s foreign exchange situation.

    Energy crisis

    • Heavy on energy imports: The data analysis on energy imports shows that all the countries in Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), especially India, Myanmar, and Bhutan, rely heavily on energy imports.
    • Fuel dependency makes the region highly vulnerable to external shocks: The trade dependency on fuel is a major curse for the region, making it highly vulnerable to exogenous macroeconomic shocks. The Russia-Ukraine conflict underscores the importance of nations having self-reliance regarding energy.
    • Absence of infrastructure and synchronisation in BIMSTEC Grid plan: Despite the BIMSTEC countries having developed a ‘Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation in BIMSTEC’ and also signed a MoU for the establishment of the BIMSTEC Grid Interconnection in August 2018, the absence of required infrastructure and adaptive power market, the lack of synchronisation of the grid system, the lack of financial policies, and other related issues have made progress in energy cooperation slow among the countries in the region.

    Bangladesh: In a tough spot

    • Unable to set in motion the transition to renewable energy, alongside heavy dependence on fuel imports, Bangladesh, especially, has been placed in a tough spot concerning energy security.
    • The Russia-Ukraine conflict has added more fuel to this fire. With energy prices climbing upwards and subsidy bills increasing, the fiscal balances and current account deficits have been worrisome for Bangladesh’s economy.
    • The government had to finally put in place some austerity measures. The domestic prices of diesel, kerosene, octane, and petrol were increased to achieve price parity with its neighbours such as India, China, and Nepal.

    Way ahead

    • Safeguard against food security crisis: It becomes imperative for regional groupings to set up safeguards against crises where their food security is affected by geopolitical events and domestic macroeconomic threats.
    • Food Bank for BIMSTEC: The idea of a food bank for the BIMSTEC countries modelled on the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN) Food Bank is a good start as it will aid in stabilising prices.
    • India urged to develop regional strategy and promoting millets: Recently, in November 2022, India hosted the second Agriculture Ministerial-level meeting of the BIMSTEC nations, where it urged the member countries to develop a regional strategy for transforming agriculture and promoting millets into the food systems.
    • Millets have potential to ameliorate food insecurity: Promotion and intra-regional trade of food items such as millets, where these countries have surplus production, can help ameliorate food insecurity to a large extent.
    • Self-reliance in energy: Overdependence on fuel will make the region more vulnerable and affect its financial stability. Therefore, developing a domestic energy market is critical for the region. This can be achieved by accelerating the green transition.
    • For instance: FDI from Japanese firms has constantly seen more impacts and spillovers in the Indian economy. If Japanese firms’ economies of scale and their potential in developing different green energy technologies could be fully utilised, it would reduce the regional dependence on China, which is currently the dominant player in the domain of solar energy.

    Conclusion

    • Regional economies have huge potential to invest in research for green transition technologies and sustainable agriculture which can help them have self-reliant energy and food markets respectively. Led by India, the Bay of Bengal region can lead the way in innovations in renewable forms of energy such as solar and wind.

    Mains Question

    Q. The South Asian neighbourhood is in flux. Discuss the major challenges and suggest a way ahead.

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  • Cyberattacks: India’s Opportunity To Conceptualize Global Cyber Security Framework

    Cyberattacks

    Central Idea

    • The past few weeks have highlighted the soft underbelly of our fast-expanding digital networks. Ransomwares have emerged as the most predominant of malicious cyberattacks. Here, the perpetrators demand hefty payments for the release of withheld data. Data show that over 75% of Indian organisations have faced such attacks, with each breach costing an average of ₹35 crore of damage.

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    Two recent ransomware attacks

    1. Ransomware attack on AIIMS: The first was the ransomware attack on the servers of India’s premium institute, the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences. Nearly 40 million health records were compromised and it took over two weeks for the systems to be brought online.
    2. BlackCat breached Solar Industries Ltd.: Soon afterwards, a ransomware gang, BlackCat, breached the parent company of Solar Industries Limited, one of the Ministry of Defence’s ammunition and explosives manufacturers, and extracted over 2 Terabyte of data.

    Cyberattacks

    What is mean by Cyber-attack?

    • Cyberattacks are unwelcome attempts to steal, expose, alter, disable or destroy information through unauthorized access to computer systems.
    • These attacks can target various entities such as governments, businesses, organizations, or individuals, and can have serious consequences such as theft of sensitive information, financial loss, reputational damage, or disruption of critical services.

    Who is behind cyberattacks?

    • Criminal organizations, state actors and private persons can launch cyberattacks against enterprises. One way to classify cyberattack risks is by outsider versus insider threats.
    1. Outsider threats: External cyber threats include; Organized criminals or criminal groups Professional hackers, like state-sponsored actors, Amateur hackers, like hacktivists
    2. Insider threats: Insider threats are users who have authorized and legitimate access to a company’s assets and abuse them either deliberately or accidentally. They include, Employees careless of security policies and procedures, Disgruntled current or former employees, Business partners, clients, contractors or suppliers with system access

    Growing vulnerability

    • There are malwares that could infect all kinds of computer systems: With the lines between the physical and digital realms blurring rapidly, every critical infrastructure, from transportation, power and banking systems, would become extremely vulnerable to the assaults from hostile state and non-state actors.
    • For instance; Cyber capabilities are also playing a pivotal role: As seen in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where electronic systems in warheads, radars and communication devices have reportedly been rendered ineffective using hacking and GPS jamming.
    • Cyber security breaches would only increase: With the introduction of 5G and the arrival of quantum computing, the potency of malicious software, and avenues for digital security breaches would only increase.
    • For instance: This year, cybercrimes are expected to cause damage worth an estimated $8 trillion worldwide.

    India’s cybersecurity architecture

    • CERT-In: In 2022, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), which is India’s cybersecurity agency, introduced a set of guidelines for organisations to comply with when connected to the digital realm. This included the mandatory obligation to report cyberattack incidents within hours of identifying them, and designating a pointsperson with domain knowledge to interact with CERT-In.
    • Draft Digital Personal Protection Bill, 2022: India’s draft Digital Personal Protection Bill 2022 proposes a penalty of up to ₹500 crore for data breaches.
    • Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA): Recently, India’s armed forces created a Defence Cyber Agency, capable of offensive and defensive manoeuvres. All Indian States have their own cyber command and control centres.
    • Cybercrime Co-ordination centre: The Indian Cybercrime Co-ordination Centre (I4C) established by the Ministry of Home Affairs, acts as a nodal point in the response against cybercrime by coordinating with state police forces across the country. It also co-ordinates the implementation of mutual legal assistance treaties (MLAT) with other countries.

    Have you heard about “Bluebugging”?

    • It is a form of hacking that lets attackers access a device through its discoverable Bluetooth connection.
    • Once a device or phone is blue-bugged, a hacker can listen to the calls, read and send messages and steal and modify contacts.
    • It started out as a threat for laptops with Bluetooth capability. Later hackers used the technique to target mobile phones and other devices.

    Limitations In India’s cybersecurity infrastructure

    • Lack of tools to identify: Most organisations lack the tools to identify cyberattacks, let alone prevent them.
    • Scarcity of cybersecurity professional: India also faces an acute scarcity of cybersecurity professionals. India is projected to have a total workforce of around 3,00,000 people in this sector in contrast to the 1.2 million people in the United States.
    • Private sector participation is limited: Most of our organizations are in the private sector, and their participation remains limited in India’s cybersecurity structures.

    Global understanding is essential

    • International cooperation is critical: With most cyberattacks originating from beyond our borders, international cooperation would be critical to keep our digital space secure. It would also be a cause which would find resonance abroad.
    • Cybersecurity treaties: India has already signed cybersecurity treaties, where the countries include the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, South Korea and the European Union.
    • Multinational frameworks are there but there is no truly global framework: Even in multinational frameworks such as the Quad and the I2U2 (which India is a member of) there are efforts to enhance cooperation in cyber incident responses, technology collaboration, capacity building, and in the improvement of cyber resilience. Yet, there is no truly global framework, with many operating in silos.
    • UNGA established two processes on ICT: The United Nations General Assembly establish two processes on the issues of security in the information and communication technologies (ICT) environment.
    • The Open-ended Working Group (OEWG), comprising the entire UN membership, established through a resolution by Russia.
    • The other is the resolution by the U.S., on the continuation of the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE), comprising 25 countries from all the major regions.
    • Differ vastly on many aspects of Internet: The two antagonistic permanent members of the UN Security Council, counted among India’s most important strategic partners, differ vastly on many aspects of the Internet, including openness, restrictions on data flow, and digital sovereignty. Amidst the turbulent current world events, these UN groups would struggle to have effective dialogues.

    Conclusion

    • The G-20 summit this year in India, which will see participation by all the stakeholders driving the global levers of power, is a rare opportunity to bring together domestic and international engagement groups across the spectrum, and steer the direction of these consultations. India could make an effort to conceptualize a global framework of common minimum acceptance for cybersecurity. This would be one of the most significant contributions made by any nation towards collective security in modern times.

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  • SEBI approval to launch Social Stock Exchange

    The National Stock Exchange (NSE) has received final approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to set up a Social Stock Exchange (SSE) as a separate segment of the NSE.

    What is a Social Stock Exchange?

    • Social Stock Exchange (SSE) is a platform that connects social enterprises with investors who are looking for social impact along with financial returns.
    • Social enterprises are organizations that prioritize social impact over profits.
    • SSE aims to provide these organizations with access to capital markets and raise awareness about social investment opportunities.

    Who can get listed for SSEs?

    • Any social enterprise, Non-Profit Organisation (NOPs) or For-Profit Social Enterprises (FPEs), that establishes its primacy of social intent can get registered or listed on the Social Stock Exchange segment.
    • Eligible NPOs can begin by registering on the SSE segment.
    • After onboarding, NPOs can initiate the fund mobilization process by issuing instruments such as Zero Coupon Zero Principal (ZCZP) via a public issue or private placement.
    • Currently, the regulations have prescribed a minimum issue size of Rs 1 crore and a minimum application size for the subscription of Rs 2 lakhs for ZCZP issuance.

    How will SSE work?

    • The SSE will be a separate segment on the NSE, where social enterprises can list their securities.
    • These securities will be available for trading to investors who are interested in social impact investing.
    • The SSE will also provide a range of services such as capacity building, impact measurement, and reporting to help social enterprises improve their operations and measure their social impact.

    Benefits of SSE

    • For social enterprises, SSE will provide access to capital markets and help them raise funds for their social projects.
    • For investors, SSE will provide a platform to invest in social enterprises and contribute to social impact.
    • SSE will also create a transparent marketplace where investors can assess the social impact of their investments.

     

     

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  • CCR5-delta 32 Gene Transplant: Permanent cure of HIV

    hiv

    Central idea: This article discusses recent developments in the field of HIV research that have led to the possibility of a cure for the disease.

    What is HIV/AIDS?

    • HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases.
    • First identified in 1981, HIV is the cause of one of humanity’s deadliest and most persistent epidemics.
    • It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex, or through sharing injection drug equipment.
    • If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
    • The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure exists.

    Present treatment of HIV

    • However, by taking HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART), people with HIV can live long and healthy lives and prevent transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.
    • In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).

    What is the new breakthrough?

    • Doctors selected a donor carrying two copies of a CCR5-delta 32 genetic mutation – a mutation that is known to make the carriers almost immune to HIV.
    • The CCR5-delta 32 genetic mutation is a rare genetic mutation that affects the CCR5 gene, which is involved in the immune system’s response to infection.
    • The mutation causes a deletion of 32 nucleotides in the gene, resulting in a truncated or shortened version of the CCR5 protein.
    • This truncated protein is not able to function normally, and people with this mutation are largely resistant to HIV infection.

    How has the CCR5-delta 32 mutation been used in HIV research?

    • Researchers have been studying the CCR5-delta 32 mutation as a potential avenue for developing an HIV cure.
    • One approach involves using gene editing technologies like CRISPR to induce the mutation in HIV-positive individuals, effectively making their immune cells resistant to HIV infection.
    • Another approach involves bone marrow transplantation from donors with the CCR5-delta 32 mutation.

    What are the risks associated?

    • Gene editing technologies like CRISPR are still in their early stages, and there are concerns about the safety and effectiveness of these methods.
    • Additionally, bone marrow transplantation is a complex and risky procedure that is not feasible for all HIV-positive individuals.
    • Finally, it is important to note that not all HIV infections are caused by the CCR5 strain of the virus, and therefore the use of the CCR5-delta 32 mutation as an HIV cure would not be effective for all cases of HIV.

    Prevalence of HIV/AIDS in India

    • As per the India HIV Estimation 2019 report, the estimated adult (15 to 49 years) HIV prevalence trend has been declining in India since the epidemic’s peak in the year 2000 and has been stabilizing in recent years.
    • In 2019, HIV prevalence among adult males (15–49 years) was estimated at 0.24% and among adult females at 0.20% of the population.
    • There were 23.48 lakh Indians living with HIV in 2019.
    • Maharashtra had the maximum at 3.96 lakh followed by Andhra Pradesh (3.14 lakh) and Karnataka.
    • ART is freely available to all those who require and there are deputed centres across the country where they can be availed from.

     

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  • R&D Expenditure And The Perils of Inadequate Data

    Central Idea

    • India’s research and development (R&D) expenditure-GDP ratio of 0.7% is very low when compared to major economies and is much below the world average of 1.8%. The main reason is the low investment in R&D by the corporate sector.

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    Overview: Spending’s on R&D in India

    • While the corporate sector accounts for about two-thirds of gross domestic expenditure on R&D (GERD) in leading economies, its share in India is just 37%. There is evidence, however, suggesting that India’s GERD data are an underestimate.
    • A 2022 infobrief of the National Science Foundation (NSF) of the United States on Foreign R&D by U.S.-based multinational corporations (MNCs) shows a spend of $9.5 billion (₹649.7 billion) on R&D in India in 2018, which increased to $9.8 billion (₹690.2 billion) in the following year.
    • There are MNCs from other leading countries also spending on R&D in India.
    • But the latest Research and Development Statistics, published by the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in 2020, has provided an estimate of ₹60.9 billion R&D spending in 2017-18 by foreign MNCs, which is only about 10% of what U.S. firms have reported to have spent in India on R&D.

    What is Gross Domestic Expenditure On R&D (GERD)?

    • Gross domestic spending on R&D is defined as the total expenditure (current and capital) on R&D carried out by all resident companies, research institutes, university and government laboratories, etc., in a country.
    • It includes R&D funded from abroad, but excludes domestic funds for R&D performed outside the domestic economy.
    • This indicator is measured in USD constant prices using 2015 base year and Purchasing Power Parities (PPPs) and as percentage of GDP.
    • It is often used as an indicator of a country’s level of innovation and technological progress.

    Issues with the current system

    • NSTMIS compiles GERD data: The National Science and Technology Management Information System (NSTMIS) of the DST is the agency that compiles GERD statistics in India.
    • Challenge is to collect data from private sector: It is easier to gather the information on R&D by the government sector, the higher education sector and public sector enterprises. The challenge lies in collecting data from the private corporate sector.

    There are two key factors that make the official R&D estimates grossly inadequate

    1. The method used for identification of R&D performing firms does not capture all the R&D performing firms.
    • NSTIMS uses DSIR and Prowess to identify R&D units: A study found only 11% of 298 firms receiving foreign investment (2004-16) for R&D were registered with DSIR. Prowess covers only 3.5% of currently active registered enterprises in India. Leading enterprises in new technology areas may not be listed in both databases, such as SigTuple Technologies.
    • The DSIR list may not have many of the actual R&D performers for two reasons: Firms which consider government incentives as not attractive enough or that are sensitive about sharing critical information with the DSIR may not be inclined to register themselves with the DSIR. 2. It may be difficult for R&D firms in services such as software and R&D services to meet the requirement of having separate infrastructure for R&D to distinguish it from their usual business. In fact, many of the R&D performing enterprises in new technology areas may come under the services category.
    1. The survey conducted by the NSTMIS is the key source of R&D statistics of India
    • Data from Secondary sources works only if firms disclose their R&D spending: If firms don’t respond to the survey, data is collected from secondary sources like annual reports and Prowess. Some firms don’t report R&D spending despite their technology activities, patents and innovators. They may not feel obliged to report accurately to Indian regulatory authorities.
    • For instance: A review of the documents submitted to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) by some R&D-oriented firms shows that there are firms which do not report any spending on R&D in spite of their declarations that suggest that they are engaged in activities of technology development, adoption and adaptation.

    What is to be done?

    • Short term measure: the NSTMIS should use the patents granted data, both in India and the U.S., in addition to its current method to identify R&D performing enterprises.
    • Mandatory disclosure: Annual R&D estimates can be prepared from mandatory disclosures that the enterprises are required to make to the MCA.
    • Technologies can be employed to ensure compliance and proper reporting: In order to ensure compliance and proper reporting, technologies can be used like in the case of revamped income-tax return forms where various sections are interlinked.
    • Spending data should be made an essential component of ESG: Additionally, proper disclosure of information to regulatory agencies, including R&D spending data, should be made an essential component of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) ranking of enterprises.

    Conclusion

    • Concrete data on R&D spending is crucial as it helps to identify areas needing investment, promotes economic growth, informs policymaking decisions, tracks progress, and evaluates policy effectiveness in promoting innovation and technological development. Transforming India’s R&D statistics to truly reflect the R&D ecosystem calls for short-term and medium-term measures.