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  • Pegasus scandal and implications for privacy

    Context

    The Pegasus spyware, created by NSO Group in Israel has created a political storm in India over its alleged use by the government.

    About the Pegasus spyware controversy

    • It uses a “zero-click” attack which allows the device to be taken over remotely by exploiting software and hardware vulnerabilities.
    • The Israeli Defence Ministry’s stated that Pegasus and other cyber products are exported “exclusively to government entities” and are only for the purpose of preventing and investigating crime and counter terrorism.
    • Pegasus has been used to illegally hack into people’s lives and to obtain private information outside the boundaries of the law.
    • Those who were supposedly targeted range from the uppermost echelons of the judiciary, Opposition party leaders, activists and journalists.

    How it harms freedoms and rights guaranteed by the Constitution

    • A person has the basic fundamental rights of liberty, privacy, speech and expression amongst others.
    • These rights go hand in hand with each other.
    • The alleged use of Pegasus to illegally hack into persons’ lives, listen in on private conversations, to thereafter use this private information against said persons in hope of gaining undue advantage, are all outside the boundaries of the law.
    •  Surveillance on this level would have the effect of instilling fear and directly hampering a person’s ability to freely make their own decisions.
    • The effect is that a person does not have the freedom to think, to speak or even be in the privacy of their own homes.

    Legal provisions for surveillance

    • In December 2018, the government authorised 10 security and intelligence agencies to intercept, monitor and decrypt any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer resource.
    • The authorisation is required before any of the 10 notified agencies can intercept, monitor or decrypt any information.
    • This and other grounds are being taken by the government before the Supreme Court to defend its stance.
    • The Data Protection Bill (yet to be passed by Parliament) offers no protection in respect of surveillance. 
    • Sections 43 and 66 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 criminalise hacking.

    Conclusion

    The majority is not always right. A democracy has the indelible right to question, to demand answers and explanations. The government has many questions to answer and steps to take to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens.

    Back2Basics: Zero-click attack

    • A zero-click attack is a remote cyber attack which does not require any interaction from the target to compromise it.
    • Pegasus spyware eliminates the need for human errors to compromise a device and instead relies on software or hardware flaws to gain complete access to a device.
    • Zero-click attacks occur only when an attacker is able to takeover a device remotely after successfully exploiting vulnerabilities in the software and hardware of the phone.
    • To make this kind of attack successful, an attacker needs to exploit flaws in a device, whereas spear phishing is a social engineering attack.

  • Nord Stream 2 Pipeline Project

    The US, which had previously imposed sanctions to prevent the completion of a major new gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, has now signaled its approval for the project.

    Nord Stream 2 Pipeline

    • It is a system of offshore natural gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany.
    • It includes two active pipelines running from Vyborg to Lubmin near Greifswald forming the original Nord Stream, and two further pipelines under construction running from Ust-Luga to Lubmin termed Nord Stream 2.
    • In Lubmin the lines connect to the OPAL line to Olbernhau on the Czech border and to the NEL line to Rehden near Bremen.
    • The first line Nord Stream-1 was laid and inaugurated in 2011 and the second line in 2012.
    • At 1,222 km in length, Nord Stream is the longest sub-sea pipeline in the world, surpassing the Langeled pipeline.

    Why is the pipeline controversial?

    • The US believed that the project would increase Europe’s dependence on Russia for natural gas.
    • Currently, EU countries already rely on Russia for 40 percent of their gas needs.
    • The project also has opponents in eastern Europe, especially Ukraine, whose ties with Russia have seriously deteriorated in the aftermath of the Crimean conflict in 2014.
    • There is an existing land pipeline between Russia and Europe that runs through Ukraine.
    • The country feels that once Nord Storm 2 is completed, Russia could bypass the Ukrainian pipeline, and deprive it of lucrative transit fees of around $3 billion per year.
    • Ukraine also fears another invasion by Russia once the new pipeline is operational.

  • Microplastics Pollution in Ganga

     

    The Ganga is heavily polluted with microplastics at Varanasi, Haridwar, and Kanpur, Delhi-based non-profit Toxics Link claimed.

    What are Microplastics?

    • Microplastics are plastics that are less than 5 mm in size but are a major source of marine pollution.
    • Untreated sewage from many cities along the river’s course, industrial waste, and religious offerings wrapped in non-degradable plastics pile pollutants into the river as it flows through several densely populated cities.
    • The plastic products and waste materials released or dumped in the river break down and are eventually broken down into microparticles.
    • The rivers finally transport significantly large quantities downstream into the ocean, which is the ultimate sink of all plastics being used by humans.

    Microplastics in Ganga

    • They are non-degradable plastics that often entered the Ganga through industrial waste or packaging of religious offerings, its research found.
    • The density of population in the three cities also added to the problem because a large chunk of pollutants got directly discharged into the river by people living on the banks.
    • Among the three cities, the Toxics Link’s study found that sites at Varanasi showed the maximum load of microplastics in the water of the Ganga, as compared to the other two cities.
    • This might be due to cumulative downstream pollution as well as industrial and human activities.

    On a global high

    • The researchers tried to compare the microplastics concentration in Ganga water with similar studies on other rivers across the globe.
    • It included the Rhine in Europe, the Patapsco, Magothy, Rhode in North America, and the Elqui, Maipo, Biobio, and Maule in South America.
    • They found the Ganga microplastics pollution was much higher.
    • This was in spite of a higher per capita consumption of plastic in the European countries, North and South America, as compared to India.

    How does it impact people?

    • The Ganga is a source of water for not just drinking and bathing purposes but also for irrigation to a large extent.
    • Microplastics in river water, if ingested in humans or other organisms, can cause toxicity through various means.
    • Not only are these microplastics toxic themselves, they also have a tendency to absorb various toxins present in water, including harmful chemicals.
    • Although some of the effects of microplastics on public health are understood, a lot still needs to be done.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q. Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released into the environment? (CSP 2019)

    (a) They are considered harmful to marine ecosystems.

    (b) They are considered to cause skin cancer in children.

    (c) They are small enough to be absorbed by crop plants in irrigated fields.

    (d) They are often found to be used as food adulterants.

  • [pib] India improves score in Ease of Cross-Border Trade

    As per the latest UN Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation, India’s rank moved up from 78.49% in 2019 to 90.32% in 2021.

    About the Survey

    • The Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation is conducted every two years by UNESCAP.
    • The 2021 Survey includes an assessment of 58 trade facilitation measures covered by the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement.
    • The Survey is keenly awaited globally as it evidences whether or not the trade facilitation measures being taken have the desired impact and helps draw comparison amongst countries.
    • A higher score for a country also helps businesses in their investment decisions.

    Global performance

    • Among developed countries, Australia, New Zealand, Netherlands, Japan, and Belgium have scored more than 93%.
    • In South Asia, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were behind India with a score of 64.5% and 60.2%, the survey showed.

    India’s improvement

    • India has scored 90.32% in United Nation’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia Pacific’s (UNESCAP) latest Global Survey on Digital and Sustainable Trade Facilitation.
    • The Survey hails this as a remarkable jump from 78.49% in 2019.

    India’s significant improvement in the scores on all 5 key indicators, as follows:

    1. Transparency:100% in 2021 (from 93.33% in 2019)
    2. Formalities: 95.83% in 2021 (from 87.5% in 2019)
    3. Institutional Arrangement and Cooperation: 88.89% in 2021 (from 66.67% in 2019)
    4. Paperless Trade: 96.3% in 2021 (from 81.48% in 2019)
    5. Cross-Border Paperless Trade: 66.67% in 2021 (from 55.56% in 2019)
    • The Survey notes that India is the best-performing country when compared to the South and southwest Asia region (63.12%) and the Asia Pacific region (65.85%).
    • The overall score of India has also been found to be greater than many OECD countries including France, UK, Canada, Norway, Finland etc. and the overall score is greater than the average score of EU.
    • India has achieved a 100% score for the Transparency index and 66% in the “Women in trade” component.

  • [pib] Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP)

    The Union Minister of Agriculture has provided useful information regarding the Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP).

    Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP)

    • Natural farming is promoted as BPKP under a centrally sponsored scheme- Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).
    • The scheme mainly emphasizes the exclusion of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling.
    • It stresses biomass mulching; use of cow dung-urine formulations; plant-based preparations and time to time working of soil for aeration.
    • Under BPKP, financial assistance of Rs 12200/ha for 3 years is provided for cluster formation, capacity building, and continuous handholding by trained personnel, certification, and residue analysis.

    About Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana

    • “PKVY” is an elaborated component of Soil Health Management (SHM) of the major project National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA).
    • Under PKVY Organic farming is promoted through the adoption of the organic village by cluster approach and PGS certification.

    The Scheme envisages:

    • Promotion of commercial organic production through certified organic farming.
    • It will raise farmer’s income and create a potential market for traders.

    Program implementation

    • Fifty or more farmers will form a cluster having 50 acres of land to take up the organic farming under the scheme.
    • In this way, during three years 10,000 clusters will be formed covering a 5.0 lakh acre area under organic farming.
    • There will be no liability on the farmers for expenditure on certification.
    • Every farmer will be provided Rs. 20,000 per acre in three years for the seed to harvesting crops and to transport produce to the market.
    • Organic farming will be promoted by using traditional resources and organic products will be linked with the market.
    • It will increase domestic production and certification of organic produce by involving farmers.

    Answer this PYQ in the comment box:

    Q.With reference to organic farming in India, consider the following statements:

    1. ‘The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
    2. ‘The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.
    3. Sikkim has become India’s first fully organic State.

    Which of the above statements is/are correct? (CSP 2018)

    (a) 1 and 2 only

    (b) 2 and 3 only

    (c) 3 only

    (d) 1, 2 and 3

  • Open Network for Digital Commerce could disrupt India’s e-commerce space

    Context

    The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) recently issued orders appointing an advisory committee for its Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) project.

    About ONDC project

    • The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) project aims to make e-commerce processes open-source.
    • In simple terms, it aims at creating a platform that can be utilised by all online retailers.
    • This is another effort by the government to facilitate the creation of shared digital infrastructure, as it has previously done for identity (Aadhaar) and payments (Unified Payments Interface).
    • It will digitise e-commerce value chains, standardise operations, promote inclusion of suppliers, and derive efficiencies in logistics.

    What are its advantages?

    • Level playing field: When done well, this approach can level the playing field and create value for users. 
    • Curb monopoly: The market is dominated by a few players who are facing investigations for unfair trade practices in many countries.
    • Prevent market failure: The sector is characterised by many small players who individually do not have the muscle to have an equitable bargain with e-commerce companies.
    • Economists call this a “market failure”, and it presents a legitimate case for intervention.

    The three layers of an open digital ecosystem and their conceptual framework for adoption and safeguards

    1) Tech layer

    • The “tech layer” should be designed for minimalism and decentralisation.
    • The government should restrict its role to facilitating standards and protocols that provide open access, and in getting them adopted organically.
    • Building an entire tech platform should happen only if a standards-based approach doesn’t suffice.
    • If built, the platform should be built on “privacy by design” principles.
    • It should collect minimal amounts of data (especially personal data) and store it in a decentralised manner.
    • Tools like blockchain could be used to build technical safeguards that cannot be overridden without active consent.

    2) Governance layer

    • Avoid excessive government intervention: The “governance layer” around this should allay business fears of excessive state intervention in e-commerce.
    • Legal provision: Any deployment of standards or tech should be accompanied by law or regulation that lays out the scope of the project.
    • Independent regulator for personal data: If collection of any personal data is required, passing the data protection bill and creating an independent regulator should be a precondition.
    • Handling by independent society: To assure the industry of fairness, the government could hand over the stewardship of the standards or platform to an independent society or non-profit.

    3) Community layer

    • A community layer can foster a truly inclusive and participatory process.
    • This may be achieved by making civil society and the public active contributors and seeking wide feedback on drafts of the proposal.
    • Once the framework is implemented, ensuring quick and time-bound redressal of grievances will help build trust in the system.

    Concerns with government creating shared digital infrastructure

    • This approach also comes with risks and we should tread with caution.
    • In general, governments should intervene in markets only when there is a clearly identifiable market failure or massive societal benefits from creating shared infrastructure.

    Way forward

    • The government’s championing of open-source technology for digital commerce is commendable.
    • It should also push the envelope on the other principles of the open-source movement — transparency, collaboration, release early and often, inclusive meritocracy, and community.
    • Even if we do all things right, an infrastructure-led approach may not be sufficient.
    • Therefore, we need to supplement infrastructure with tightly-tailored regulation.
    • We need to explore the concept of interoperability, that is, mandating that private digital platforms like e-commerce firms enable their users and suppliers to solicit business on other platforms.
    • To drive the adoption of an open e-commerce platform in a sector with entrenched incumbents we need to create “reference applications”, and financial or non-financial incentives.
    • Useful learnings can be drawn from the adoption of UPI: The government supported the rollout of BHIM as a reference app, and offered incentives.

    Consider the question “How the Open Network for Digital Commerce project can help deal with the issues with the e-commerce sector? Suggest the approach the project should adopt to make it a success.”

    Conclusion

    It is timely that India is exploring innovative ways to bridge the gaps in e-commerce markets. But the boldness of this vision must be matched by the thoughtfulness of the approach.

    Back2Basics: What is ‘Privacy by Design?

    • Privacy by design is a concept that integrates privacy into the creation and operation of new devices, IT systems, networked infrastructure, and even corporate policies.
    • Developing and integrating privacy solutions in the early phases of a project identifies any potential problems at an early stage to prevent them in the long run.

  • 23rd July 2021| Daily Answer Writing Enhancement(AWE)

    Topics for Today’s questions:

    GS-1  Population and associated issues.

    GS-2  Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health

    GS-3  Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization, of resources, growth, development and employment; Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. 

     

    GS-4 Case Study

     

    Questions:

    Question 1)

     

    Q.1) The ambit and reach of social security net needs to increase for the welfare of elderly as their share in population of India is expected to rise in near future. Discuss the challenges in design, development and execution of welfare measures for the elderly. How far do the recent measures taken by the government address these? (15 Marks)

     

    Question 2)

    Q.2) What are the issues facing the public healthcare system in India? Is privatisation an answer to these issues faced by the healthcare system? (10 Marks)

    Question 3)

    Q.3) The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) project aims to make e-commerce processes open-source. What are the advantages of doing this? Suggest the approach the ONDC project should adopt to make it a success. (10 Marks)

    Question 4)  

    Q.4) Wildlife conservation is today the hot topic of talk throughout globe. Every international event has wildlife protection agenda directly or indirectly. Expanding human demands on land, sea and fresh water, along with the impacts of climate change, have made the conservation and management of wild areas and wild animals a top priority. But there are many different reasons for thinking that such conservation is important, and these reasons can shape conservation policies in different ways. (a) Outline different possible ethical perspectives through which it is possible to think about wildlife management and conservation. (b) Explore the different underlying values that can direct conservation policy. (20 Marks)

    NOTE- Since it’s a two month program last date to write answers is July 30th. All the questions will be evaluated latest by August 5th.
    After that this program will end as we need to focus on Prelims. So write all the answers before 30th July.

    HOW TO ATTEMPT ANSWERS IN DAILY ANSWER WRITING ENHANCEMENT(AWE)?

    1. Daily 4 questions from General studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 will be provided to you.

    2. A Mentor’s Comment will be available for all answers. This can be used as a guidance tool but we encourage you to write original answers.

    3. You can write your answer on an A4 sheet and scan/click pictures of the same.

    4.  Upload the scanned answer in the comment section of the same question.

    5. Along with the scanned answer, please share your Razor payment ID, so that paid members are given priority.

    6. If you upload the answer on the same day like the answer of 1st June is uploaded on 1st June then your answer will be checked within 72 hours. Also, reviews will be in the order of submission- First come first serve basis

    7. If you are writing answers late, for example, 1st June is uploaded on 3rd June, then these answers will be evaluated as per the mentor’s schedule.

    8. We encourage you to write answers on the same day. However, if you are uploading an answer late then tag the mentor like @Swatantra so that the mentor is notified about your answer.

    *In case your answer is not reviewed, reply to your answer saying *NOT CHECKED*. Swatantra Sir’s tag is available, tag him.

    For the philosophy of AWE and payment: 

    CLICK HERE To join Daily AWE

  • 23rdJuly 2021 | Prelims Daily with Previous Year Questions

    [WpProQuiz 709]

    [WpProQuiz_toplist 709]

  • [RSTV Archive] Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021

    The government has introduced the Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 in the Rajya Sabha to replace a nine-decade-old law to pave the way for shifting from lighthouses to modern aids for marine navigation.  Lok Sabha passed the Bill in March this year.

    In this article, we shall study the salient features, its application, the changes the bill would bring about in marine navigation.

    Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021

    • The Bill repeals the Lighthouse Act, 1927 and seeks to provide a framework for the development, maintenance, and management of aids to navigation in India.
    • Key features of the Bill include:

    Application:

    • The Bill applies to the whole of India including various maritime zones including territorial waters, continental shelf, and exclusive economic zone.

    Aid to navigation:

    • The Bill defines aid to navigation as a device, system, or service, external to the vessels designed and operated to enhance the safety and efficiency of navigation of vessels and vessel traffic. 
    • A vessel includes a ship, boat, sailing vessel, fishing vessel, submersible, and mobile offshore drilling units.
    • Vessel traffic service is defined as a service to improve the safety and efficiency of vessel traffic and protect the environment.

    Director-General of Aids to Navigation:

    • The Bill provides that the central government will appoint: (i) a Director General, (ii) Deputy Director Generals, and (iii) Directors for districts (which the centre may demarcate). 
    • The Director General will advise the central government on matters related to aids to navigation, among others.

    Central Advisory Committee:

    • The central government may appoint a Central Advisory Committee (CAC) consisting of persons representing the interests affected by the Bill, or having special knowledge of the sector. 
    • The government may consult the CAC on matters including: (i) establishment of aids to navigation, (ii) additions, alteration, or removal of, any such aids, (iii) cost of any proposal relating to such aids.
    • Further, the CAC may also appoint sub-committees for additional advice on these matters.

    Management of General Aids: 

    • The central government will be responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of all general aids to navigation and vessel traffic services.
    • Its powers with regard to management of aids to navigation include: (i) establishing, maintaining, adding, altering, or removing any aid to navigation, (ii) authorising to inspect any such aid which may affect the safety of navigation, and (iii) acquiring any land as may be necessary.

    Training and certification:

    • The Bill provides that no person shall be allowed to operate on any aid to navigation (including any ancillary activities), or any vessel traffic service in any place unless he holds a valid training certificate. 
    • The central government will accredit training organizations for imparting training to, or conduct assessments of, persons in the operation of aids to navigation and vessel traffic services.

    Levy of marine aids to navigation dues:

    • The Bill provides that marine aids to navigation dues will be levied and collected for every ship arriving at or departing from any port in India, at the rate specified by the central government from time to time. 
    • The central government may wholly or partially exempt certain vessels from these dues. 
    • These vessels include: (i) any government ship, which is not carrying cargo or passengers for freight or fares, or (ii) any other ship, classes of ships, or ships performing specified voyages.
    • Any dispute related to the marine aids to navigation dues, expenses, or costs, will be heard and determined by a civil court having jurisdiction at the place where the dispute arose.

     Heritage Lighthouse:

    • The central government may designate any aid to navigation under its control as a heritage lighthouse. 
    • In addition to their function as aids to navigation, such lighthouses will be developed for educational, cultural, and tourism purposes.

    Why was such bill needed?

    • India has a long coastline. There are radar beacons, GPS Navigation system to guide a ship for proper directing  of the ship.
    • In India there are 18 light houses which are more than 75 years old.
    • There are light house districts where safe navigation is provided. Cost of Maintaining of these Light houses is also very high.

  • A cardinal omission in the COVID-19 package

    Context

    On July 8, 2021, the Union government announced the “India COVID-19 Emergency Response and Health Systems Preparedness Package: Phase II”. But it lacks provision for the medical workforce.

    Objectives of the package

    • The stated purpose of the package is to boost health infrastructure and prepare for a possible third wave of COVID-19.
    • There is plan to increase COVID-19 beds, improve the oxygen availability and supply, create buffer stocks of essential medicines; purchase equipment and strengthen paediatric beds.

    What is lacking in the package?

    • Workforce shortage: The package barely has any attention on improving the availability of health human resources.
    • As reported in rural health statistics and the national health profile there are vacancies for staff in government health facilities, which range from 30% to 80% depending upon the sub-group of medical officers, specialist doctors to nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists and radiographers, amongst others.
    • Interstate variation: In addition, there are wide inter-State variations, with States that have poor health indicators with the highest vacancies.

    Way forward

    • Package for filling the existing vacancies: The COVID-19 package II needs to be urgently supplemented by another plan and a similar financial package (with shared Union and State government funding) to fill the existing vacancies of health staff at all levels. 
    • An objective approach to assess the mid-term health human resource needs could be the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).
    • IPHS prescribes the human resources and infrastructure needed to make various types of government health facilities functional.
    • The pandemic should be used as an opportunity to prepare India’s health system for the future.
    • Scrutiny of the progress on policy decision: The progress on key policy decisions, for the last few years, to strengthen India’s health system, including those in India’s national health policy of 2017, need to be objectively scrutinised.
    • These two sets of policy decisions should be reviewed and progress monitored, through a meeting of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare, of which the Health Ministers of the States are members.

    Conclusion

    India’s health system will not benefit from ad hoc and a patchwork of one or other small packages. It essentially needs some transformational changes.

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