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  • Death Penalty Abolition Debate

    SC asks govt. for data on Death by Hanging

    | Polity | Mains Paper 2: Indian Constitution – historical underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and basic structure

    death

    The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to provide data which may point to a more dignified, less painful and socially acceptable method of executing prisoners other than death by hanging.

    Central idea

    • The Supreme Court is hearing a petition challenging the constitutionality of death by hanging as a mode of execution.
    • The petition argued that there is a need to evolve a “humane, quick and decent alternative” to hanging, which he termed as “cruel and barbarous” compared to lethal injection used in the United States.

    Quest for painless execution

    • Justice Narasimha noted that there was literature suggesting that “hanging is closest to painless”.
    • In 2018, the Centre filed an affidavit supporting death by hanging and stated that it had found the method of firing squads and lethal injections as “barbaric, inhuman and cruel”.
    • The government traced statistics of “botched-up” administration of lethal injections to condemned prisoners in the United States for 110 years to prove its point.

    Status of death penalty in India

    • Section 354 (5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure mandates that a person sentenced to death shall “be hanged by the neck till he is dead”.
    • In India, The Air Force Act, 1950, The Army Act 1950, and The Navy Act 1957 say that execution has to be carried out either by hanging by the neck until death or by being shot to death.

    Why in news now?

    • The court clarified that it was not questioning the constitutionality of the death penalty, which was well-settled in Deena versus Union of India judgment and the Bachan Singh case reported in 1980.
    • The government argued that the mode of execution is a “matter of legislative policy” and the death penalty is awarded only in the rarest of rare cases, with only three executions between 2012 and 2015.

    Debate over Death Penalty

    Arguments in favor:

    • Forfeiture of life: Supporters of the death penalty believe that those who commit murder, because they have taken the life of another, have forfeited their own right to life.
    • Moral indignation of the victim: It is a just form of retribution, expressing and reinforcing the moral indignation not only of the victim’s relatives but of law-abiding citizens in general.
    • Highest form of Justice: For heinous crimes such as the Nirbhaya Gangrape Case, no other punishment could have deterred the will of the convicts.
    • Deterrent against crime: Capital punishment is often justified with the argument that by executing convicted murderers, we will deter would-be murderers from killing people.
    • Proportional punishment: The guilty people deserve to be punished in proportion to the severity of their crime.
    • Prevailing lawlessness: The crimes we are now witnessing cannot be addressed by simple punishments. We are seeing horrific attacks on women, young girls, minority communities and Dalits etc.
    • Prevention of crime is non-existent: Despite of stringent regulations, it is certainly visible that some crimes can never be prevented in our society.

    Arguments against:

    • Eye for an eye: Reformative justice is more productive, that innocent people are often killed in the search for retribution, and that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
    • Deterrence is a myth: Death penalty is not a deterrent to capital crimes state that there is no evidence to support the claim that the penalty is a deterrent.
    • Political tool of suppression: The authorities in some countries, for example Iran and Sudan, use the death penalty to punish political opponents.
    • Reverence for life’ principle: Death penalty is an immoral punishment since humans should not kill other humans, no matter the reasons, because killing is killing.
    • Stigma against killing: With the introduction of lethal injection as execution method, medical professionals participate in executions. Many professionals have now refused to administer such deaths.
    • Skewed justice systems: In many cases recorded by Amnesty International, people were executed after being convicted in grossly unfair trials, on the basis of torture-tainted evidence and with inadequate legal representation.
    • Discriminatory nature: The weight of the death penalty is disproportionally carried by those with less advantaged socio-economic backgrounds or belonging to a racial, ethnic or religious minority.
    • Penalizing the innocents: The risk of executing the innocent precludes the use of the death penalty. Our colonial history has witnessed many such executions.

    Other issues with such executions

    (a) Socio-Economic Factors

    • The recent statistics shows that the death row prisoners in India are more from the backward classes of the society.
    • The death row prisoners belong to backward classes and religious minorities and the majority of convicts’ families are living in adjunct poverty.
    • These people who are backward both in economic and social respects, are not in a position to here expensive lawyers and get proper representation in the Court.

    (b) Delayed Execution

    • The law provides for a long process before the execution of the convicts actually takes place.
    • The unexplained delay in execution can be a ground for commutation of death penalty, and an inmate, his or her kin, or even a public-spirited citizen could file a writ petition seeking such commutation.
    • Their trials are often cruelly forced to endure long periods of uncertainty about their fate.

    Way forward: Law Commission recommendations on death penalty

    The Law Commission of India in its 262nd Report (August 2015) recommended that:

    • Death penalty be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism-related offences and waging war.
    • Measures such as police reforms, witness protection scheme and victim compensation scheme should be taken up expeditiously by the government.
    • It felt that time has come for India to move towards abolition of the death penalty. However the concern is often raised that abolition of death penalty for terrorism-related offences and waging war, will affect national security.

     

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  • Climate Change Negotiations – UNFCCC, COP, Other Conventions and Protocols

    Key takeaway of the IPCC Synthesis Report

    Prelims Only | Enviro & Biodiversity | Mains Paper 1: Important Geophysical Phenomena

    ipcc

    The IPCC Synthesis Report warns that the world is on track to breach the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming limit by the 2030s, which would cause irrevocable damage to the planet’s ecosystem and severely impact humans and other living beings.

    What is IPCC Synthesis Report?

    • The IPCC Synthesis Report is a summary report produced by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that presents key findings and policy recommendations from the group’s previous assessment reports.
    • It aims to provide policymakers with a concise overview of the current state of knowledge on climate change, its impacts, and options for mitigation and adaptation.
    • The Synthesis Report is released at the end of each assessment cycle, which typically takes six to seven years, and is approved by representatives from the IPCC’s member governments.

    Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

    • The IPCC, an intergovernmental body was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
    • It was later endorsed by the UN General Assembly. Membership is open to all members of the WMO and UN.
    • The IPCC produces reports that contribute to the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the main international treaty on climate change.

     

    Key highlights of the synthesis report

    • Climate extremes on rise: Due to the current global warming levels, almost every region across the planet is already experiencing climate extremes, an uptick in deaths due to heatwaves, reduced food and water security, and damage to ecosystems, causing mass extinction of species on land and in the ocean.
    • High vulnerability: More than three billion people live in areas that are “highly vulnerable” to climate change.
    • Boost up climate finance: The largest gaps in climate finance are in the developing world, but so too are the largest opportunities.

    Key concerns raised

    The report highlights the urgent need for-

    • Limiting the use of fossil fuels
    • Increasing finance to climate investments
    • Expanding the clean energy infrastructure,
    • Reducing nitrogen pollution from agriculture, curtail food waste, and
    • Adopting measures to make it easier for people to lead low-carbon lifestyles

    Conclusion

    • The report adds that there is still a chance to avert this mass-scale destruction, but it would require an enormous global effort to slash greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and completely phase them out by 2050.
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  • Police Reforms – SC directives, NPC, other committees reports

    What is the Interpol, and what is a Red Notice?

    IOCR | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Important International Institutions

    interpol

     

    In a major setback to Indian agencies, Interpol has taken down from its website the Red Notice against a fugitive who is wanted in connection with the ₹13,578-crore Punjab National Bank fraud cases.

    What is the news?

    • The person whom the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has listed as a “terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

    Why has Interpol rejected India’s request?

    • The Interpol has said that India has failed to provide sufficient information to support its case.
    • It criticized the UAPA for being misused to target minority groups and human rights activists without “respecting” their right to due process and a fair trial.
    • While acknowledging the separatists leader, the Interpol has said that his activities have a “clear political dimension”, which cannot be the subject of a Red Corner Notice.

    What is the Interpol?

    • The Interpol, or International Criminal Police Organization, is an inter-governmental organization comprising 195 member countries, which helps police forces in all these countries to better coordinate their actions.
    • It enables member countries to share and access data on crimes and criminals and offers a range of technical and operational support.
    • It is run by a secretary general with its headquarters in Lyon, France, with a global complex for innovation in Singapore, and several satellite offices in different regions.
    • India accepted Interpol membership in June 1956.

    How does it function in member countries?

    • Interpol has a National Central Bureau (NCB) in each member country, which is the central point of contact for both the general secretariat and the other NCBs around the world.
    • Each NCB is run by police officials of that country, and usually sits in the government ministry responsible for policing. (MHA in case of India.)
    • Interpol manages 19 police databases with information on crimes and criminals (from names and fingerprints to stolen passports), accessible in real-time to countries.
    • It also offers investigative support such as forensics, analysis, and assistance in locating fugitives around the world.

    What is a Red Notice?

    • Criminals or suspects often flee to other countries to evade facing justice.
    • A Red Corner Notice, or Red Notice (RN) alerts police forces across the world about fugitives who are wanted internationally.
    • Red Notices are issued for fugitives wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence.
    • A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action.
    • An RN is published by Interpol at the request of a member country.

    Indian fugitives on this RN

    • Among the most popular Indians on this list are jeweller Mehul Choksi and diamantaire Nirav Modi.

    Is an RN a warrant of arrest?

    • An RN is only an international wanted persons’ notice; it is not an international arrest warrant.
    • Interpol itself does not want individuals; they are wanted by a country or an international tribunal.
    • This means the Interpol cannot compel law enforcement authorities in any country to arrest the subject of an RN.
    • It is up to individual member countries to decide what legal value to give to an RN, and the authority of their national law enforcement officers to make arrests.
    • Interpol says that an RN must comply with its constitution and rules.
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  • Terrorism and Challenges Related To It

    What is the National Security Act, 1980?

    Prelims Only | Security Issues | Mains Paper 3: Various Security Forces, Agencies & Their Mandates

    Punjab Advocate General has confirmed the invocation of National Security Act (NSA) to Amritpal Singh’s case.

    National Security Act, 1980

    • The NSA was passed by the Parliament in 1980 and has been amended several times since then.
    • It empowers the state to detain a person without a formal charge and without trial.
    • It is invoked when a person is taken into custody to prevent them from acting in any manner prejudicial to “the security of the state” or for “maintenance of the public order”.
    • It is an administrative order passed either by the Divisional Commissioner or the District Magistrate.

    Grounds for detention under NSA

    • NSA can be invoked to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, relations of India with foreign powers or the security of India.
    • Among others, it can also be applied to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the maintenance of supply and services essential to the community.
    • An individual can be detained without a charge for a maximum period of 12 months.
    • The detained person can be held for 10 to 12 days in special circumstances without being told the charges against them.

    Protection available under the Act

    • One crucial procedural safeguard under the NSA is granted under Article 22(5).
    • All the detained persons have the right to make an effective representation before an independent advisory board.
    • The board is chaired by a member who is, or has been, a judge of a high court.
    • The DM who passes the detention order is protected under the Act and no prosecution or any legal proceeding can be initiated against the official who carries out the orders.

    Cases for misuse

    • The Supreme Court in earlier cases had held that to prevent “misuse of this potentially dangerous power, the law of preventive detention has to be strictly construed”.
    • “Meticulous compliance with the procedural safeguards” has to be ensured.

    Criticism of NSA

    • Human rights groups have said in the past that the Act vitiates Article 22 of the Constitution and various provisions under the CrPC that safeguard the interest of an arrested person.
    • Under the CrPC, the arrested person has to be produced before the nearest Magistrate within 24 hours, but the NSA carves out an exception.
    • Some human rights groups argue that it is often misused by authorities to silence political opponents or those who are critical of the government.
    • There have been calls for the Act to be repealed or amended to prevent its abuse.
    • However, there is an opposing view that the Act cannot be construed to be a draconian law as it protects the larger interest of the state and is therefore likely to stay.

    Try this MCQ:

    Which of the following is a true statement about the National Security Act, 1980?

    A) The Act allows preventive detention only for specific violations of the law.

    B) The detained person has the right to move a bail application before a criminal court.

    C) A person can be detained under the Act only if he/she has been charged with a crime.

    D) The Act can be invoked to prevent a person from acting in any manner prejudicial to the defence of India, relations of India with foreign powers or the security of India.

     

    Post your answers here.

     

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  • Human Development Report by UNDP

    HDI: Addressing India’s Subnational Human Development

    op-ed snap | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Issues relating growth and development, employment

    Central Idea

    • India is now one of the fastest-growing economies globally. However, this growth has not resulted in a corresponding increase in its Human Development Index (HDI). According to the Human Development Report of 2021-22, India ranks 132 out of 191 countries, behind Bangladesh (129) and Sri Lanka (73).

    Facts for Prelims: Human Development Index (HDI)

    • Composite statistical measure by UNDP: The HDI is a composite statistical measure created by the United Nations Development Programme to evaluate and compare the level of human development in different regions around the world.
    • As an alternative with broader aspects: It was introduced in 1990 as an alternative to conventional economic measures such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which do not consider the broader aspects of human development.
    • Aspects: The HDI assesses a country’s average accomplishment in three aspects 1. A long and healthy life, 2, knowledge, and 3. A decent standard of living.
    • India ranks 132 out of 191 countries in the HDI 2021.

    The subnational HDI: A new index

    • Given India’s large size and population, it’s critical to address subnational or state-wise disparities in human development.
    • A new index has developed by using the methodology suggested by the UNDP and the National Statistical Office (NSO), which measures human development on a subnational level for 2019-20.

    HDI Calculation

    • The HDI is calculated using four indicators: life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling, and Gross National Income (GNI) per capita.
    • The subnational HDI uses GSDP per capita as a proxy indicator for GNI since GNI per capita estimates are unavailable at the subnational level.
    • The methodology involves calculating the geometric mean of the normalised indices for the three dimensions of human development while applying the maximum and minimum values recommended by the UNDP and NSO.

    Subnational HDI Findings

    • The subnational HDI shows that while some states have made considerable progress, others continue to struggle. Delhi occupies the top spot and Bihar occupies the bottom spot.
    • The five states with the highest HDI scores are Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Sikkim, and Chandigarh. Nineteen states, including Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab, Telangana, Gujarat, and Andhra Pradesh, have scores ranging between 0.7 and 0.799 and are classified as high human development states.
    • The bottom five states are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Assam, with medium levels of human development.

    Reasons for Discrepancies

    1. The economic growth has been unevenly distributed, with the top 10% of the Indian population holding over 77% of the wealth. This has resulted in significant disparities in access to basic amenities, healthcare, and education.
    2. While India has made significant progress in reducing poverty and increasing access to healthcare and education, the quality of such services remains a concern.

    Conclusion

    • The government needs to prioritize human development alongside economic growth to ensure that the benefits of growth are more evenly distributed, and it requires a multi-faceted approach to address various issues such as income inequality, gender inequality, access to quality social services, environmental challenges, and social infrastructure investment. India must prioritize investments in human development and job creation, particularly for its youth, to realize its demographic dividend.

    Mains Question

    Q. Analyze the performance of different states in terms of their Human Development Index (HDI) and suggest measures that could be taken to address the disparities in human development in the country

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  • India’s Bid to a Permanent Seat at United Nations

    UNSC: India’s Remarkable Tenure

    op-ed snap | International Relations | Mains Paper 2: Bilateral, Regional and Global Groupings and agreements involving India

    Central idea

    • India’s two-year stint in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) was unprecedented, with a focus on maritime security, terrorism, UN peacekeeping, reformed multilateralism, and the Global South. India served as the Chair of three important UNSC Committees, made efforts to bring conflicting parties on the same page, and raised important issues like religiophobia.

    India’s tenure in the UNSC from 2020 to 2022

    1. Focus on Priorities:
    • Clear priorities upon entering the Council in January 2021
    • Priorities include maritime security, terrorism, UN peacekeeping, reformed multilateralism, and the Global South
    • India elected Chair of three important UNSC Committees
    1. India’s Role in Maritime Security:
    • Prime Minister of India chaired a UNSC meeting on maritime security
    • Presidential Statement issued was the first comprehensive document on maritime security
    • Document referenced UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as international law setting out the legal framework
    • Statement called for freedom of navigation, anti-piracy measures, and combating terror and transnational crime at sea
    1. Conflicts on the Agenda:
    • Old conflicts festered and new conflicts arose, including Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Mali, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Haiti, Libya, and the Sahel, as well as Ukraine
    • The Council stood polarised and unable to act decisively
    • India attempted to bring the Council together on these issues
    1. India’s Involvement in Myanmar:
    • Military takeover in Myanmar occurred in February 2021
    • Permanent-5 were pulling in opposing directions while ASEAN counselled caution
    • India shares a nearly 1,700 kilometre-long border with Myanmar and it was crucial to stop violence, bring in stability and ensure democratic processes went forward
    • India ensured balanced and comprehensive Council pronouncements, which culminated in a resolution on Myanmar (adopted under India’s presidency) in December 2022.

    India’s Impact on the UNSC: Steadfast Diplomacy in the Face of Global Challenges

    1. India’s role in Afghanistan Crisis:
    • India steered negotiations resulting in UNSC Resolution 2593 for benchmarks in Afghanistan, including stopping cross-border terrorism, protecting rights of women and minorities, ensuring an inclusive government, and providing humanitarian assistance.
    • India maintains a firm position on the Taliban upholding these benchmarks.
    1. India’s stance on Ukraine Conflict:
    • India’s independent stand calling for dialogue and peace during the Ukraine conflict resonated with many developing countries.
    • India spoke out against unilateral sanctions on oil, food, and fertilizers.
    • As the conflict spilled over into India’s G-20 Presidency, India is now launching an initiative to convert its proactive position into action.
    1. India’s focus on counter-terrorism:
    • As Chair of the UNSC Counter-terrorism Committee (CTC), India brought the CTC meeting to India in October 2022.
    • India attempted to list terrorists under UNSC Resolution 1267 sanctions but was thwarted, however, the proposal to list Abdul Rehman Makki, Deputy Amir/Chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba was approved by the UNSC, with India as a proposer.

    India on peacekeeping

    • Largest contributor including women: India has been the largest contributor of UN peacekeepers, including as a pioneer in women peacekeeping.
    • UNITE Aware technology platform: Its launching of the UNITE Aware technology platform to strengthen real-time protection of peacekeepers is to be noted.
    • Calling for accountability for crimes against peacekeepers: In August 2021, India piloted the first UNSC resolution by India in more than five decades, calling for accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. India also gifted two lakh vaccines to all UN peacekeepers.

    Facts for Prelims: The UNITE Aware technology platform

    • Developed by India: The UNITE Aware technology platform is a system developed by India in collaboration with the United Nations to enhance the safety and security of peacekeepers deployed in conflict zones.
    • Real time ground situation: It is a real-time situational awareness system that uses advanced technologies such as satellites, drones, and geospatial tools to provide up-to-date information on the ground situation to peacekeeping forces.
    • Mobile app: The system also includes a mobile app that allows peacekeepers to report incidents and receive alerts in real-time.
    • Help to make informed decisions: The platform is designed to help peacekeepers make informed decisions and respond effectively to emerging threats, thereby reducing the risks to their safety and security.

    On other important issue

    1. Climate change:
    • India’s focus on the developing world, especially Africa and West Asia, was enhanced, given their close historical relations.
    • In December 2021, India thwarted a move by the West to wrest climate change from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change-led process and bring it under the ambit of the UNSC, where the P-5 are also major historical polluters.
    • The draft resolution was defeated in the Council when India and Russia voted against.
    • A change in the climate change architecture would have shut out the voice of the Global South, especially Small Island Developing States.
    1. Contemporary issues:
    • India also raised the issue of a contemporary form of religiophobia in the Council when, while condemning phobia against Abrahamic religions, it forcefully put forth the need to combat rising hate crimes and phobias against non-Abrahamic religions as well.
    • With hate crimes being fuelled abroad by vested interests, India’s stand needs to be robustly taken forward.

    Conclusion

    • India’s Presidency led to a discussion on urgent Council reform, highlighting India’s strong performance and the need for its permanent presence at the horseshoe table.

    Mains Question

    Q. India’s tenure in the United Nations Security Council from 2020 to 2022 was marked by its focus on several important priorities and its involvement in various global issues. Evaluate India’s performance.

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  • Home Ministry begins process to sell Enemy Properties

    Prelims Only | Governance | Mains Paper 2: Ministries & Departments Of The Government

    enemy
    MA Jinnah’s house in Mumbai

    The home ministry has begun the process to sell enemy properties, immovable assets left behind by people who have taken citizenship in Pakistan and China after wars with these countries.

    What one means by Enemy Property?

    • Enemy property refers to the assets and properties of individuals or entities that have been declared as “enemies” by the Indian government.
    • This can include individuals or entities who are citizens of a country that is at war with India, or who have engaged in hostilities or acted against the interests of India.

    Why was such a concept initiated?

    • In the wake of the India-Pakistan wars of 1965 and 1971, there was the migration of people from India to Pakistan.
    • Under the Defence of India Rules framed under The Defence of India Act, 1962, the Government of India took over the properties and companies of those who took Pakistani nationality.
    • These “enemy properties” were vested by the central government in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India.
    • The same was done for property left behind by those who went to China after the 1962 Sino-Indian war.
    • The Tashkent Declaration of January 10, 1966 included a clause that said India and Pakistan would discuss the return of the property and assets taken over by either side in connection with the conflict.
    • However, the Government of Pakistan disposed of all such properties in their country in the year 1971 itself.

    Dealing with enemy property

    • The Enemy Property Act, enacted in 1968, provided for the continuous vesting of enemy property in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI) under the Home Ministry.
    • The central government, through the Custodian, is in possession of enemy properties spread across many states in the country.
    • Some movable properties too, are categorised as enemy properties.
    • In 2017, Parliament passed The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, which amended The Enemy Property Act, 1968, and The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.

    Total such properties in India

    enemy

    • There are 12,611 enemy properties in India estimated to be worth over ₹1 lakh crore.
    • The government has earned over ₹3,400 crore from disposal of enemy properties, mostly movable assets like shares and gold.
    • None of the immovable enemy properties has been sold so far.
    • Out of the 12,611 properties vested with the CEPI, 12,485 were related to Pakistani nationals and 126 to Chinese citizens.
    • Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of enemy properties (6,255), followed by West Bengal, Delhi, Goa, Maharashtra, Telangana, Gujarat, Tripura, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Haryana.
    • Kerala, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Assam, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Daman and Diu, and Andhra Pradesh have enemy properties as well.

     

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  • Renewable Energy – Wind, Tidal, Geothermal, etc.

    World’s 1st Sand Battery developed in Finland

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    sand

    Finland has successfully installed the world’s first sand battery that can store heat from various energy sources for months.

    What is the Sand Battery System?

    • The battery is a massive steel silo, 7 m tall and 4 m wide with 100 tonnes of sand, and was installed in Finland’s Kankaanpaa town in June 2022.
    • It is connected to the town’s centralised heating network that keeps buildings and public water systems warm.
    • The storage system has three main components:
    1. Sand silo,
    2. Electrical air heater, and
    3. Air-to-water heat exchanger

    Working principle

    • For charging the sand silo, air is heated to 600°C in the electrical air heater.
    • The hot air is then circulated inside the silo using a heat-exchange pipe and blowers to raise the temperature of the sand at the silo’s core to 600°C.
    • When the storage enters the discharging stage, the blowers are used to pump air into the pipe inside the sand silo.
    • Once the air reaches 200°C, it is transferred to the air-to-water heat exchanger, where it is used to boil water.
    • It is then sent to the heating network.

    Electricity Requirements and Capacity of the Battery

    • The storage system requires electricity at all times to charge the battery, monitor the temperature during standby, and run the blowers when the battery is used.
    • The installed battery can store 8 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy and release heat at 0.1 MW, which is enough to provide heating and hot water for about 100 homes and a public swimming pool.

    Advantages of Sand as a Heat Storage Material

    • The Finnish researchers replaced water with sand in the battery system because of its advantages.
    • Sand can be heated up to 600 degrees Celsius (°C), whereas water starts to boil at 100°C.
    • It also has low heat conductivity, which reduces energy loss.

    Importance of Heat Energy

    • Heat accounts for half of the world’s energy use, followed by transport (30 per cent) and electricity (20 per cent), as per the International Energy Agency (IEA).
    • Currently, 80 per cent of the world’s energy comes from dirty fossil fuels.

     

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  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough

    What is Generative AI?

    Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields

    generative ai

    Central idea: Google and Microsoft have added generative AI to their search engines and browsers, as well as to consumer products such as Gmail, Docs, Copilot 365, Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and more.

    What is Generative AI?

    • Like other forms of artificial intelligence, generative AI learns how to take actions from past data.
    • It creates brand new content – a text, an image, even computer code – based on that training, instead of simply categorizing or identifying data like other AI.
    • The most famous generative AI application is ChatGPT, a chatbot that Microsoft-backed OpenAI released late last year.
    • The AI powering it is known as a large language model because it takes in a text prompt and from that writes a human-like response.

    Generative AI products offered by Google and Microsoft

    generative ai

    • Google and Microsoft have added generative AI to their search engines and browsers, as well as to consumer products such as Gmail, Docs, Copilot 365, Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and more.
    • In Google’s Gmail and Docs, generative AI can help users write documents automatically, such as a welcome email for employees.
    • Copilot 365, a feature of Microsoft 365 apps, can generate spreadsheets on command or even write an entire article on Word, depending on the topic.
    • Both companies are making generative AI platforms and models a part of their cloud offerings, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

    What are Google and Microsoft offering?

    • In Google’s Gmail and Docs, generative AI will help users write documents automatically.
    • For instance, an HR executive can simply ask the AI app to write a welcome email for employees, instead of typing out the document.
    • Similarly, Microsoft has ‘Copilot 365’ for its Microsoft 365 apps, which includes Teams, Outlook, Word and Excel.
    • Here, AI could generate a spreadsheet on command, or even write down an entire article on Word (depending on the topic).
    • Copilot can also match entries on Calendar with emails, and generate quick, helpful pointers that a person should focus on in their meetings.

    How can these developments impact human workforce?

    • The technology is currently not very accurate and often provides incorrect responses, despite being popular.
    • During the initial demonstrations of these products, Google and Microsoft were found to give inaccurate responses.
    • While these products may have utility, they are not yet capable of replacing humans in the workplace.
    • Humans are better suited to check information generated by AI.

    Various challenges posed

    • Bias: The data that is used to train generative AI systems can be biased, leading to biased outputs.
    • Misinformation: Since generative AI systems learn from the internet or training data which itself may have been inaccurate, they could increase the spread of misinformation online.
    • Security: Generative AI systems could be used to create deepfakes or other forms of digital manipulation that could be used to spread disinformation or commit fraud.
    • Ethics: There are ethical concerns around the use of generative AI, particularly when it comes to issues like privacy, accountability, and transparency.
    • Regulation: There is a need for regulatory frameworks to ensure that generative AI is used responsibly and ethically, and that it does not have any negative impacts on society.

     

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  • NPA Crisis

    Finmin lifts bar on CPSUs issuing Letters of Comfort

    Prelims Only | Economics | Mains Paper 3: Indian Economy

    comfort

    Central idea: The Finance Ministry has allowed central public sector firms (CPSUs) to issue letters of comfort with a condition that they should clearly state that the Government of India will not be liable for any consequences arising from such letters.

    What is a Letter of Comfort?

    • A letter of comfort is a support document issued to a borrower that adds some strength to the transaction when giving loans.
    • Letter of comforts are usually issued by a third party or a stakeholder in the transaction.
    • For instance, a holding company can give a letter of comfort on behalf of its subsidiary or a government can issue a letter of comfort for public sector enterprises.
    • The letter of comfort can also be issued by banks, NBFCs and auditors.

    Obligation status of LoCs

    • The letter of comfort is not legally binding or an obligation by the holding company to repay the loans.
    • It is just an assurance to the lender that the holding company is aware of the transaction, the policies of the subsidiary and its intentions in seeking a loan.
    • This provides some comfort to the financial institution to lend money for short term or long term.
    • One can say that the letter of comfort could become a moral obligation and not a legal one.

    How is it different from letter of guarantee?

    • A letter of comfort is different from a letter of guarantee.
    • As spelled out in the name, the letter of guarantee acts as a commitment to the lender that the issuing company is taking responsibility for the repayment.
    • It is also legally binding and the transaction becomes an obligation for the guarantor.
    • Holding companies usually give letters of comfort when they are unable or unwilling to give letters of guarantees.

    Try this MCQ-

    Q. Which of the following statements is true about a Letter of Comfort?

    A) It is a legally binding document that obligates the holding company to repay the loan.

    B) It is issued only by banks and NBFCs.

    C) It is an assurance provided by a third party to the lender that adds strength to the transaction when giving loans.

    D) It is the same as a Letter of Guarantee in terms of its legal obligations.

     

    Post your answers here.

     

     

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