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  • Social Media: Prospect and Challenges

    New IT Rules is not the way forward

    op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Social Media Networks & Internal Security

    The article deals with the issues involved in the traceability requirement of the originator of information on social media platform as per new IT Rules.

    Traceability clause and issues involved

    • Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 imposes certain obligation on significant social media intermediaries.
    • Rule 4(2) puts an obligations to ensure traceability of the originator of information on their platforms.
    • Consequently, WhatsApp has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court.
    • WhatsApp contends that the mandate for traceability violates the privacy rights of Indian citizens, by rendering WhatsApp unable to provide encrypted services.

    Government’s response

    • The Government primarily relies on the argument that: privacy is not an absolute right, and that the traceability obligation is proportionate, and sufficiently restricted.
    • Notably, the new Rules mandate traceability only in the case of significant social media intermediaries i.e. those that meet a user threshold of 50 lakh users, which WhatsApp does.
    • Traceability is also subject to an order being passed by a court or government agency and only in the absence of any alternatives.
    • While it is indeed true that privacy is not an absolute right, the Supreme Court of India in the two K.S. Puttaswamy decisions of 2017 and 2018 has laid conditions for restricting this right.
    • In Puttaswamy cases, the Supreme Court clarified that any restriction on this right must be necessary, proportionate and include safeguards against abuse.

    Issues with traceability

    • Not proportionate: A general obligation to enable traceability as a systemic feature across certain types of digital services is neither suitable nor proportionate.
    • No safeguard against abuse: The Rules lack effective safeguards in that they fail to provide any system of independent oversight over tracing requests made by the executive.
    • This allows government agencies the ability to seek any messaging user’s identity, virtually at will.
    • Presumption of criminality:  Weakening encryption — which a traceability mandate would do — would compromise the privacy and security of all individuals at all times, despite no illegal activity on their part, and would create a presumption of criminality.

    Way forward

    • Explore the alternatives: The Government already has numerous alternative means of securing relevant information to investigate online offences including by accessing unencrypted data such as metadata, and other digital trails from intermediaries.
    • Already has ability to access encrypted data: The surveillance powers of the Government are in any case vast and overreaching, recognised even by the Justice B.N. Srikrishna Committee report of 2018.
    • Importantly, the Government already has the ability to access encrypted data under the IT Act.
    • Notably, Section 69(3) of the Information Technology Act and Rules 17 and 13 of the Information Technology Rules, 2009 require intermediaries to assist with decryption where they have the technical ability to do so, and where law enforcement has no alternatives.
    • Judicial scrutiny of Section 79 of IT Act: The ability of the government to issue obligations under the guise of “due diligence” requirements under Section 79 of the IT Act must be subject to judicial scrutiny.
    • Legislative changes needed: The long-term solution would be for legislative change along multiple avenues, including in the form of revising and reforming the now antiquated IT Act, 2000.

    Consider the question “What are the issues involved in the traceability of the originator of the information on social media platforms as mandated by the new IT Rules 2021? Suggest the way forward.”

    Conclusion

    While, undoubtedly, there are numerous problems in the digital ecosystem that are often exacerbated or indeed created by the way intermediaries function, ill-considered regulation of the sort represented by the new intermediary rules is not the way forward.

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  • Agmark, Hallmark, ISI, BIS, BEE and Other Ratings

    [pib] Research Design & Standards Organization

    PIB | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Government Scheme/Policies

    RDSO (Research Design & Standards Organization) of Indian Railways has become the FIRST Institution to be declared SDO under the “One Nation One Standard ” mission of BIS ( Bureau of Indian Standards).

    About RDSO

    • Research Designs & Standards Organization (RDSO), Lucknow, \ is the sole R&D Wing of the Ministry of Railways.
    • It is one of India’s leading Standard formulating Body undertaking standardization work for the railway sector.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.Consider the following statements:

    1. The Standard Mark of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is mandatory for automotive tyres and tubes.
    2. AGMARK is a quality Certification Mark issued by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

    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

    What is One Nation One Standard mission?

    • The purpose of setting standards and enforcing them is not to bring back “inspection raj” but to ensure that quality products are made available to consumers.
    • The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the only national body that frames standards, has come out with more than 20,000 standards for various products and services so far.
    • Besides this, there are about 50-odd agencies that have framed about 400 standards in the country.
    • There are multiple standards in the country for a single product/service. The new mission is to converge such standards with the BIS.

    Objectives of the mission:

    • No one should feel the need to go abroad to get a quality certification.
    • Lab testing in India should be of world standards. Modern equipment and the latest technologies would be used there.

    Why such a move?

    • Having uniform national standards will help in making it mandatory for more products.
    • The government proposes to set Indian standards in line with the global benchmarks, just like other countries enforce their standards on imported products.
    • The Centre, through this move, wants foreign goods coming into India to comply with Indian standards.

    Back2Basics: Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

    • BIS is the National Standards Body of India working under the aegis of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution.
    • It is established by the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 which came into effect on 23 December 1986.
    • The organization was formerly the Indian Standards Institution (ISI), set up under the Resolution of the Department of Industries and Supplies in September 1946.
    • The ISI was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
    • A new Bureau of Indian standard (BIS) Act 2016 has been brought into force with effect from 12 October 2017.
    • The Act establishes the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) as the National Standards Body of India.

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  • Why people are Protesting in Lakshadweep

    | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 3: Conservation, Environmental Pollution & Degradation, Eia

    The article highlights the issues with development model sought to be pursued in Lakshadweep.

    Background of Island Development Authority’

    • A specially constituted Island Development Authority (IDA) for the island territories of India, chaired by no less than the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi.
    • IDA had in 1988, approved a framework for the development of India’s island territories.
    • IDA sought an environmentally sound strategy for both island groups hinges on better exploitation of marine resources coupled with much greater care in the use of land resources.
    • Deliberations of the IDA wanted that Lakshadweep, with its land ownership constitutionally protected, be opened to international tourism.

    Issues with following Maldives model for development of Lakshadweep

    •  Recently, the Administrator, Lakshadweep, introduced a slew of draft legislation that will have a wide-ranging impact on the islands.
    • One such legislation is the Lakshadweep Development Authority Regulation 2021 with intentions to develop Lakshadweep like neighbouring Maldives, “a renowned international tourist destination”.
    • Rejecting the Maldives model, the plan for Lakshadweep required that the industry had to be people-centric and enrich the fragile coral ecology.
    • Today, long lines and refrigeration have aided the expansion of the fishing sector but income disparities have grown.
    • Indiscriminate trawling endangers the coral, as experienced in the Maldives and now banned there.
    • The Government recognises the need to develop policies for enhancing employment opportunities, environment-friendly management of fisheries, sanitation, waste disposal and widening access to drinking water, with the youth, having acquired a modern education, preferring salaried jobs over pursuing traditional occupations.

    Conclusion

    What Lakshadweep needs is a clear policy must include conservation and natural resource management arrived at after wide consultation, eminently possible within the existing infrastructure of the Union Territory, and also taking into account climatic compulsions.

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  • Government Budgets

    Resource crunch in states after Covid second wave

    op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    The article gives the overview of the impact of second Covid wave on the fiscal health of the States.

    Impact of first Covid wave on fiscal health of states

    • The analysis of the fiscal data for all states with the exception of Goa, Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim reveal a grim picture.
    • The aggregate revenue deficit for 24 state governments soared to Rs 4 trillion as per the revised estimates (RE) for 2020-21, up from a modest budgeted amount of Rs 353 billion.
    • And, despite a 16 per cent cut in capital spending, the fiscal deficit of these states deteriorated to Rs 8.7 trillion in 2020-21 (RE), up from the budgeted estimate of Rs 6.0 trillion.

    How states had projected ambitious decline in revenue deficit

    • The budgets for the ongoing fiscal year,  had projected an ambitious, decline in the aggregate revenue deficit to Rs 1.2 trillion, lower than the pre-Covid-19 level of Rs 1.3 trillion in 2019-20.
    • This has benefitted from the considerable expansion in their revenue receipts this year, forecasted at 24.7 per cent, compared to a moderate 12.4 per cent increase in their aggregate revenue expenditure.
    • This anticipated shrinking of the revenue deficit has allowed states to plan for a substantial expansion in their capital expenditure and net lending pegged at 34.1 per cent.
    • This anticipated shrinking also allowed the States to attempt a modest correction in their budgeted fiscal deficit, bringing it down to Rs 7.6 trillion in 2021-22 from Rs 8.7 trillion in 2020-21 (RE).

    Fiscal concerns over second Covid wave

    • The second wave of Covid-19 infections and its spread to rural areas has fanned fiscal concerns.
    •  The curtailed consumption of discretionary items and contact-intensive services will dampen the growth of states’ own tax revenues this year.
    • Moreover, lower mobility during the regional lockdowns will constrain tax revenues that states earn on fuels.
    • The data for the generation of GST e-way bills confirms that the staggered imposition of the localised lockdowns has had an adverse impact on economic activity since April.
    • This will result in a sequential slowdown in GST collections that will be reported in the subsequent two months.
    • Nevertheless, the GST collections is likely to nearly double to Rs 1.7 trillion in the first quarter of this year, up from Rs 0.9 trillion over the same period last year, boosted by the record-high collections in April,
    • That reflected healthy economic activity in March.

    The shortfall and way forward

    •  States’ own tax collections is estimated to trail their budget estimates as they were drawn up before the second wave.
    • For this year,  state GST collections would be at Rs 6.1 trillion, falling below their projected revenues of Rs 8.7 trillion.
    • This indicates a GST compensation requirement of Rs 2.65 trillion — only 38 per cent of which may be met through the expected GST compensation cess collections.
    • Following the meeting of the GST Council, the Finance Minister has indicated that a back-to-back loan of Rs 1.58 trillion will be provided to the states.
    • If the tranches of this loan start flowing to the states soon, it will alleviate their anticipated revenue crunch over the next two months.
    • Already, there has been a sharp rise in the size of the upcoming State Development Loan auction to Rs. 19,550 crore, relative to the modest average size of around Rs. 7,400 crore seen so far in the first eight auctions held in FY2022.

    Conclusion

    In any case, the capital spending budgeted by certain state governments this year appears to be optimistic. Moreover, localised restrictions imposed during the last two months are expected to have constrained activity.

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  • RBI Notifications

    Cryptocurrency & India

    op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields,Indian Economy

    The article highlights the need for coherent cryptocurrency policy and avoid missing the benefits offered by the technology.

    Growing dominance of cryptocurrencies

    • Created by Satoshi Nakamoto in 2008, Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency.
    • It is a fully decentralised, peer-to-peer electronic cash system that didn’t need the purview of any third-party financial institution.
    • The Bitcoin, which traded at just $ 0.0008 in 2010, commanded a market price of just under $65,000 this April.
    • Many newer coins were introduced since Bitcoin’s launch, and their cumulative market value touched $ 2.5 trillion this May.
    • Within a span of just over a decade, their value has surpassed the size of economies of most modern nations.
    •  The “cryptomarket” grew by over 500 per cent, even while the pandemic unleashed global economic carnage not seen since the Great Depression.
    • China’s recent crackdown on cryptocurrency had far-reaching consequences.
    • An astounding trillion US dollars were wiped out from the global cryptomarket within a span of 24 hours.
    • This kind of  volatility mentioned above has always been a concern for regulators and investors alike.

    India’s approach

    • Law enforcement and taxation agencies have called for a ban, expressing concerns over cryptocurrencies being used as instruments for illicit activities, including money laundering and terror funding.
    • In 2018, the Reserve Bank barred our financial institutions from supporting crypto transactions — but the Supreme Court overturned it in 2020.
    • Yet, Indian banks still block these transactions, and the government has circulated a draft bill outlawing all cryptocurrency activities, which has been under discussion since 2019.
    • The Reserve Bank has announced the launch of a private blockchain-supported official digital currency, similar to the digital Yuan.
    • India is increasingly mimicking China’s paradoxical attempt to centralise a decentralised ecosystem.
    • India is trying to decouple cryptocurrencies from their underlying blockchain technology, and still derive benefit.
    • Unfortunately, this is impractical, and shows a lack of understanding of this disruptive innovation.
    • The funds that have gone into the Indian blockchain start-ups are less than 0.2 per cent of the amount the sector raised globally.
    • The current central government approach makes it near-impossible for entrepreneurs and investors to acquire much economic benefit.

    Need for regulation

    • Regulation is definitely needed to prevent serious problems, to ensure that cryptocurrencies are not misused, and to protect unsuspecting investors from excessive market volatility and possible scams.
    •  However, regulation needs to be clear, transparent, coherent and animated by a vision of what it seeks to achieve.
    • India has not been able to tick these boxes, and we’re in danger of missing out in the global race altogether.

    Way forward

    • Any new regulations made in this sector should prevent the misuse of these digital assets without hindering innovation and investments.
    • Provisions have to be made to route the value extracted from these networks transparently into our financial system.
    • Regulatory uncertainties over India’s position on cryptocurrency highlights the need for clear-headed policy-making.

    Consider the question “India was a late adopter in all the previous phases of the digital revolution be it the semiconductors, the internet or smartphones. Do you think the same is happening again in India’s adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology?”

    Conclusion

    We are currently on the cusp of the next phase, which would be led by technologies like blockchain. We have the potential to channel our human capital, expertise and resources into this revolution, and emerge as one of the winners of this wave. All we need to do is to get our policymaking right.

     

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  • Monsoon Updates

    Monsoon onset over Kerala delayed: IMD

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | : Geographical Features & Their Location

    • The monsoon’s arrival over Kerala has been delayed to June 3, according to an update by the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
    • Private weather forecast agency, Skymet, however, said that the monsoon had arrived.
    • This was because two of the three criteria — as defined by the IMD — had been met.
    • Currently, IMD’s own data indicated that except for the OLR, the other criteria were met. Thus, there is an element of subjectivity in arrival.

    What are those criterias defined by IMD?

    1. Rain-bearing westerlies being at a minimum depth and speed;
    2. At least 60% of the available 14 stations in Kerala and coastal Karnataka, reporting rainfall of 2.5 mm or more for two consecutive days after May 10;
    3. A certain degree of clouding, indicated by a parameter called ‘outgoing long wave radiation’ (OLR), being below 200 W/square meter.

    What is meant by ‘Outgoing Long Wave Radiation’ (OLR)?

    • Outgoing Long-wave Radiation (OLR) is electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths from 3–100 μm emitted from Earth and its atmosphere out to space in the form of thermal radiation.
    • It is also referred to as up-welling long-wave radiation and terrestrial long-wave flux, among others.
    • The flux of energy transported by outgoing long-wave radiation is measured in W/m.
    • In the Earth’s climate system, long-wave radiation involves processes of absorption, scattering, and emissions from atmospheric gases, aerosols, clouds and the surface.
    • Over 99% of outgoing long-wave radiation has wavelengths between 4 μm and 100 μm, in the thermal infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum.

    Factors responsible for south-west monsoon formation:

    1. Intense heating of Tibetan plateau during summer months.
    2. Permanent high pressure cell in the South Indian Ocean (east to north-east of Madagascar in summer).

    Factors that influence the onset of south-west monsoons:

    1. Above points +
    2. Subtropical Jet Stream (STJ).
    3. Tropical Easterly Jet (African Easterly Jet).
    4. Inter Tropical Convergence Zone.

    Factors that influence the intensity of south-west monsoons:

    1. Strengths of Low pressure over Tibet and high pressure over southern Indian Ocean.
    2. Somali Jet (Findlater Jet).
    3. Somali Current (Findlater Current).
    4. Indian Ocean branch of Walker Cell.
    5. Indian Ocean Dipole.

    Factors responsible for north-east monsoon formation:

    1. Formation and strengthening of high pressure cells over Tibetan plateau and Siberian Plateau in winter.
    2. Westward migration and subsequent weakening of high pressure cell in the Southern Indian Ocean.
    3. Migration of ITCZ to the south of India.

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  • ‘Bell of Faith’ launched by Kerala for senior citizens

    Schemes | Indian Society | Mains Paper 1: Social Empowerment

    The ‘Bell of Faith’ scheme will now be implemented for senior citizens staying alone in villages. Scheme to cover 250 houses in city in the first phase.

    What is the ‘Bell of Faith’ scheme all about?

    • It is a safety project conceived under Kerala’s Community Policing Scheme.
    • It will help elderly citizens attract the attention of their neighbours using a loud, remote-controlled alarm in emergencies.
    • It has been under implementation in Kerala since 2018.
    • A welfare fund of ₹3.5 crore sanctioned by the State government would be used for the initiative that gives preference to those staying alone in their houses.
    • In the first phase, around 250 houses selected by the local Janamaithri scheme coordinators will be covered under the scheme

    Significance of the Project:

    • It sets an example for community participation to ensure the well-being and safety of the elderly.
    • It can be of great support for the aged during the COVID-19 pandemic as many live in fear for their health.
    • The electronic bells, installed free of cost with wireless control mechanism, will help senior citizens in quickly seeking the support of neighbours during emergencies.

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  • Foreign Policy Watch: India-Africa

    Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

    IOCR | International Relations | : Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    West African leaders were due to meet in Ghana to discuss a response to Mali’s second coup in nine months.

    • Since 1960, when Mali gained independence from France, there have been five coups — and only one peaceful transition from one democratically elected president to another.
    • But on Monday, soldiers detained transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, releasing them on Thursday while saying that they had resigned.

    Recent coup

    • Nine months ago, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was overthrown in the wake of mass anti-government protests.
    • Last week, the announcement of a new cabinet was made that excluded two key military leaders. Following this, the army has detained the President and the Prime Minister.

    About ECOWAS

    • The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of fifteen countries, founded in 1975 via the treaty of Lagos.
    • Mission: To promote economic integration in “all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters.
    • Vision: Creation of a borderless region where the population has access to its abundant resources and is able to exploit same through the creation of opportunities under a sustainable environment.
    • ECOWAS can be divided into two sub-regional blocs:
    1. West African Economic and Monetary Union – established in 1994
    2. West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) – established in 2000
    • ECOWAS is meant to be a region governed in accordance with the principles of democracy, rule of law and good governance.
    • The member countries of ECOWAS comprises: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.

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  • Modern Indian History-Events and Personalities

    Statehood Day of Goa

    | | Mains Paper 1: Modern Indian History

    On 18 December 1961, the Indian government took military action against the Portuguese rule in Goa culminating in the liberation of Goa and its merger with the Indian Union.

    About Goa

    • Goa is located on the southwestern coast of India within the region known as the Konkan, and geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats.
    • Capital: Panji.
    • Official Language: Konkani which is one of the 22 languages from the Eight Schedule.
    • Borders: It is surrounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, with the Arabian Sea forming its western coast.

    History:

    • Portugal conquered Goa in 1510 and made it a colony.
    • In 1950, the Indian government, in a bid to start diplomatic measures to free Goa, asked the Portuguese government to start negotiations for the independence of Goa. However, Portugal refused.
    • The Goan movement was supported by Indian independence leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
    • Dadra and Nagar Haveli was annexed by India in 1954 with the support of the United Front of Goans, the Azad Gomantak Dal and the National Movement Liberation Organisation.
    • The commander of the Indian forces was Major-General K.P. Candeth. The operation for Goa liberation was codenamed “Operation Vijay”.
    • After the fall of Goa, Portugal terminated all diplomatic relations with India and only in 1974 Portugal recognise Goa as a part of India and resume diplomatic relations.
    • The USSR had steadfastly supported India in this matter and also vetoed a resolution condemning the Indian invasion in the UN Security Council.

    Geography:

    • The highest point of Goa is Sonsogor.
    • Goa’s seven major rivers are the Zuari, Mandovi, Terekhol, Chapora, Galgibag, Kumbarjua canal, Talpona and the Sal.
    • Most of Goa’s soil cover is made up of laterites.

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  • Data is an essential weapon against Covid

    op-ed snap | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    The article highlights how data played an important role in decision-making in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. 

    Importance of data in decision making

    • The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted globally how important data is to governments in decision-making.
    • Epidemiological data is of paramount significance for targeting and implementing control measures for public health in a timely manner
    • Such data was used effectively in the evidence-based response and decision-making in countries like South Korea.
    • Modern response to pandemics has focused on exploiting all the available data to inform policy action in real time.

    How data analysis helped during pandemic

    • Data analysis has revealed the need for continuous and repeated tracking of case numbers, fatalities and recoveries.
    • The epidemiological concept of flattening the curve and its predictions are results of data analysis and modelling.
    • Understanding testing adequacy or lack thereof allows us to measure our preparedness, prognostic versus diagnostic ability, and shape our responses to identify, manage, and care for new cases.
    • Epidemic outbreak data like case data, medical and treatment data can be used to understand disease pathogenesis and severity.
    • Genome sequencing surveillance helps identify and track viral genome sequence variants in real time and the evolution of the virus.
    •  The concept of open access to various data enables models to improve forecast and study the spread of the disease.’

    Integration and analysis of multiple datatypes

    • The integration and analysis of multiple heterogeneous datatypes eventually would yield a holistic picture.
    • This helps guide policy decisions for control and management of public health.
    • When genome surveillance data is correlated with the magnitude of cases and their outcomes, then we can understand the transmissibility or infectivity of the virus.
    • Geographical mapping of prevalence of mutants allows us to understand viral spread and explain recoveries or deaths in a specific area.
    • The roll out of vaccinations can shape viral evolution and drug-treatment strategies.
    • Surveillance through studying genome sequencing of the virus, coupled to other epidemiological data allows us to identify these connections.

    Challenges

    • Part of the challenge lies in the standardisation of data collection, curation, annotation and the integration of data analytics pipelines for outbreak analytics.

    Way forward

    • Ensuring data availability and quality under operational constraints is critical.
    • The use of data standards instils consistency, reduces errors and enables transparency.
    • Embedded in the idea of data sharing lies the concept of data security and confidentiality.
    • Concerns of privacy and security calls for a systemic infrastructure with built-in safeguards to ensure data encryption while preserving anonymity and ensuring privacy.
    • As our dependence on data-based decisions becomes more and more critical, an urgent charter for standardised digital health data in India is required.

    Consider the question “The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted globally how important data is to governments in decision-making. Explain how data helps in decision making and challenges in evidence-based decision making based on data.”

    Conclusion

    Rational and scientific methods necessitate data without which neither can we have information, nor knowledge or wisdom. Data sharing, and transparency and timely dissemination of data are critical to overcome the pandemic.

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