Current Affairs – December 01-02, 2024

{GS2 – Governance – Civil Services} Prosecution of Public Servants Under PMLA

• Context (IE): SC mandates prior sanction to prosecute public servants under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

What is the Prior Sanction Provision?

• Section 197 of the CrPC, 1973: This section bars courts from taking cognisance of offences alleged to have been committed by a judge, magistrate, or public servant acting in the discharge of their official duties unless the government has given prior sanction. (Carried forward in Section 218 of BNSS,2023).
• Purpose: The provision aims to shield public servants from unnecessary prosecution and protect decision-making in good faith.
• Exceptions: No prior sanction is required for prosecuting public servants accused of certain crimes against women (such as rape, sexual harassment) and other serious crimes like human trafficking.

Interaction of PMLA with CrPC

• Section 65 (PMLA): CrPC provisions apply to PMLA cases unless they conflict with the PMLA itself.
• Section 71 (PMLA): PMLA provisions override authority over other laws in cases of inconsistency.

Constitutional Protection for Civil Servants

• Part XIV of the Constitution: Deals with services under the Union and the States.
• Art 309: Empowers Parliament & State legislatures to regulate civil servants’ service conditions.
• Doctrine of Pleasure (Article 310): States that civil servants hold office at the pleasure of the President or Governor, but this power is not absolute.
• Article 311: Dismissal or removal can only be done by the appointing authority or a higher rank. Dismissal or reduction in rank requires an inquiry with a reasonable opportunity to defend.

How Does the Prior Sanction Provision Work?

• Government Sanction: The sanction must come from the Central Government for Union-affiliated individuals and from the State Government for those in State affairs.
• Scope of Protection: Provision does not extend its protective cover to every act or omission of a public servant while in service. It applies only to those acts or omissions done while discharging official duties.
• Judicial Interpretation: In Devinder Singh v. State of Punjab (2016), SC held that the protection of sanction assures honest and sincere officers that they will perform their duties honestly and to the best of their ability to further public duty. However, authority cannot be used as a shield to commit crimes.

{GS2 – MoAFW – Initiatives} Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme

• Context (PIB): The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a loan agreement to promote plant health management in India’s horticulture sector to improve farmers’ access to disease-free planting materials, aligning with India’s Atmanirbhar Clean Plant Programme.

• Implemented by: The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare through the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

Key Objectives of the Programme

• Enhancing Horticulture Yield: The program focuses on increasing the yield of horticulture crops by ensuring the availability of certified, disease-free planting materials.
• Adopting Climate-Resilient Varieties: This initiative promotes the dissemination and adoption of climate-resilient plant varieties to combat the adverse effects of climate change.
• Protecting Ecosystem: Implements proactive virus & disease control measures to safeguard ecosystem.

Key Components of the Programme

• Establishment of Clean Plant Centers (CPCs): Nine state-of-the-art CPCs will be set up. These centres will be equipped with advanced diagnostic therapeutics and tissue culture laboratories.
• Certification System: A comprehensive certification system will be implemented. This system will ensure accountability and traceability in producing and selling planting materials.
• Affordable Access to Clean Plant Materials: It actively engages women farmers to ensure inclusivity and develops region-specific clean plant varieties to address diverse agro-climatic conditions.

{GS3 – Infra – Transportation} Road Accidents in India

• Context (IE): India recorded over 1.72 lakh road fatalities in 2023, highlighting the country’s global lead in road accident deaths.

Key Statistics (2023)

• Total Road Crashes: 4.80 lakh (4.2% increase from 2022).
• Daily Average Figures: 1,317 crashes and 474 deaths daily; 55 crashes and 20 fatalities hourly.
• Uttar Pradesh had the highest fatalities, with 23,650 deaths from 44,000 accidents.
• Over-speeding: Accounted for 68.1% of fatalities in 2023.
• No Safety Gear: 54,000 deaths and 16,000 deaths due to not wearing helmets & seat belts, respectively.
• Driving Violations: Over 34,000 crashes by unlicensed driving & 12,000 deaths by overloading.
• Infrastructure Issues: Potholes, inadequate crossings & outdated vehicles with poor braking systems.

Challenges to Road Safety in India

• Behavioural Issues: Lack of adherence to rules, over-speeding and reckless driving.
• Road Engineering: Potholes, black spots, and inadequate infrastructure.
• Enforcement Gaps: Weak implementation of traffic laws, especially at state and district levels.
• Vehicle Standards: Need for improved automobile engineering and technology.
• Awareness and Education: Insufficient awareness programs on road safety.

Measures Taken

• Black Spot Rectification: ₹40,000 crore spent on rectifying black spots on national highways.
• Curriculum Inclusion: The proposal is to include road safety rules in school curricula.
• Automobile Engineering: Directives for companies to improve vehicle safety standards.
• Awareness Programs: Nationwide campaigns for better road safety practices.

Way Forward

• Improved Road Infrastructure: Address potholes and build more underpasses and foot-over bridges across state and district highways.
• Behavioral Interventions: Promote respect for traffic rules through awareness campaigns by engaging NGOs and communities in road safety education.
• Technology and Innovation: Integrate AI-based traffic management systems; Mandate advanced vehicle safety features (like airbags and ADAS ).
• State-Level Cooperation: Active participation of state govts in addressing local road safety issues.

Also, refer Road Safety in India.

{GS3 – IS – Cyber Security} Research Security in India

• Context (TH): India’s 2047 development goals rely on advancing science & technology, necessitating robust research security to counter cyberattacks, foreign interference and intellectual property theft.

Need for Research Security

• Safeguarding Strategic Investments: Essential for research strategic technologies like AI, quantum computing, biotech, and defence to protect national interests.
• Global Competitive Edge: Ensures technological progress remains uncompromised and fosters societal benefits and economic growth.
• National Security: Prevents adversaries from exploiting sensitive data.

Examples of Breaches and Vulnerabilities

• Defense Sector Espionage: Allegations of espionage within India’s defence research ecosystem underscored risks of sensitive data exposure.
• COVID-19 Vaccine Data Theft: Cyberattacks targeted vaccine R&D, highlighting vulnerabilities.
• ISRO Cyberattacks: ISRO faced cyberattacks in 2019 aimed at stealing data from satellite projects.
• Harvard University Incident: Concealed Chinese funding while receiving U.S. defence grants raised concerns about research security.

Current Threats and Challenges in Research Security

• Foreign Interference: Risks of espionage, unauthorised data access and strategically motivated funding.
• Insider Threats: Unauthorized personnel, including contractors and academic staff, pose security risks.
• Cyberattacks: Targeting research facilities to compromise data integrity and disrupt progress.
• Intellectual Property Theft: Unauthorized exploitation of patents and trade secrets by foreign actors.
• Balancing Collaboration and Security: Security measures can limit academic freedom and hinder international partnerships.
• Regulatory Burden: Administrative workload on research institutions to implement security protocols.
• Financial Investment: High costs are required to develop and maintain robust security systems.
• Lack of Unified Approach: Coordination challenges exist between government departments like the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Defence, and Ministry of External Affairs.
• Disconnected Security measures: Siloed efforts lead to inconsistent application and enforcement.

Challenges in Balancing Research Security and Innovation

• Potential Hindrance: Stringent security measures may deter international collaboration and slow down scientific progress.
• Balancing Innovation: Security policies must encourage domestic and global research collaboration without stifling innovation.
• Privacy Concerns: Increased surveillance could raise researcher privacy and freedom issues.
• Transparency: Clear and transparent oversight is necessary to ensure security measures align with ethical principles and do not infringe on rights.
• Regulatory Challenges: Balancing security with academic freedom and openness can be difficult, leading to resistance from the research community.

Measures to Strengthen Research Security in India

• Policy: Establish National Research Security Guidelines to classify research by strategic value & risks.
• Framework Development: Create an office within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) for coordinated research security efforts and adopt flexible, risk-based security strategies.
• Risk-Based Approach: Implement proportional security strategies, inspired by the European model, to balance safety with research freedom.
• Capacity Building: Develop a professional cadre trained in implementing research security measures and launch awareness programs to educate researchers on security risks.
• Operational Safeguards: Conduct vulnerability mapping to identify risks in collaborations, infrastructure & personnel hiring; establish surveillance mechanisms to monitor and respond to emerging threats.
• Balancing Open Science with Security: Adopt policies similar to Germany and the UK, emphasising “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” to protect strategic data while promoting transparency and open access for non-sensitive research.
• Addressing Academic Concerns: Recognize and mitigate potential academic pushback by creating security measures that respect academic freedom and foster collaborative research.

Global Best Practices

• United States: The CHIPS and Science Act focuses on research security, and the National Science Foundation leads dedicated security efforts.
• Canada: National Security Guidelines for Research Partnerships with a list of sensitive technologies.
• European Union: Risk-based strategies and country-agnostic regulations under Horizon Europe.
• China: Military-Civil Fusion Strategy emphasises integrating civilian and military research, demonstrating the importance of robust security measures.

{Prelims – A&C – Sites} Lothal

• Context (IE): The tragic death of a 23-year-old IIT Delhi researcher at Lothal during research on climate change’s impact on the Indus Valley Civilisation has brought this Harappan site into focus.

Key Highlights of Lothal

• Location and Historical Context: Situated in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region between the Sabarmati and Bhogavo rivers, Lothal was built around 2200 BCE.
• Discovery and Significance: Discovered in 1954 by archaeologist S.R. Rao, Lothal is known for its dockyard and was an important trade hub, exporting beads, gems and ornaments to West Asia and Africa.
• Engineering Marvels: Home to the world’s oldest known dockyard with an advanced water-locking mechanism, showcasing the sophisticated engineering of the time.
• Artefacts and Trade Links: Excavations revealed bead necklaces (amethyst), axes and fish hooks, and Mesopotamian-style seals, indicating strong trade links with Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia.
• Decline: Frequent flooding and changes in Sabarmati River’s course might have disrupted its maritime connections, leading to the decline and transformation into an unplanned settlement around 2000 BCE.
• National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC): Under construction in Lothal alongwith Vietnam, to showcase India’s 4500-year-old maritime legacy, featuring a Lighthouse Museum and 5D theatre.

Way Forward for Lothal Preservation and Development

• Enhance research infrastructure with advanced facilities for secure archaeological studies.
• Strengthen preservation efforts through recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• Utilize modern technology for effective site monitoring and restoration.
• Increase public engagement through initiatives like the NMHC.

{Prelims – Bio – Diseases} Aortic Stenosis

• Context (TH): Insulin resistance can be a risk factor for heart valve disease, such as aortic stenosis.

Source: Drraghu

• The aortic valve is important for maintaining blood flow from the heart’s lower left chamber (left ventricle) to the aorta, the primary artery delivering blood to the body.
• When the aortic valve narrows, a condition known as aortic stenosis, blood flow becomes restricted.
• Over time, the heart’s left ventricle has to pump harder to push blood through the narrowed aortic valve.
• This strain can cause the ventricle to thicken, enlarge, and weaken. If untreated, it can lead to heart failure.
• Main Cause: Aortic stenosis is most commonly caused by atherosclerosis, where calcium buildup occurs on the aortic valve over time. These calcium deposits, often associated with ageing, make the valve tissue stiff, narrow, and unyielding.
• Symptoms: Chest pain, fluttering heartbeat, Shortness of breath, dizziness or light-headedness, even fainting, Difficulty walking short distances.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} African Openbill Stork (Anastomus lamelligerus)

• Context (TH): African openbill stork was observed in the Kanjani Kole fields (Kerala).

Source: Wikipedia

• Distribution: This species is widely distributed across Sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Previously, it was only recorded in Oman and Saudi Arabia within the Asian subcontinent.
• Habitat: African Openbills are typically found in still waters such as shallow lakes, swamps, and seasonal pans. They prefer areas with big trees for perching and nesting.
• Diet and Social Behavior: Their diet primarily consists of snails and other molluscs. They are gregarious birds. They produce bill clatters during social displays, which is common among storks.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

{Prelims – In News} Hornbill Festival of Nagaland

• Context (IE): “Festival of Festivals”, Hornbill Festival began in the Naga heritage village of Kisama.

• It is celebrated annually in the first week of December. It is named after the revered bird, Hornbill.

{Prelims – S&T – Defence} Exercise CINBAX Between India and Cambodia

• Context (PIB): The first Joint Table Exercise, CINBAX, between the Indian Army & Cambodian Army was conducted in Pune to enhance both armies’ interoperability in counter-terrorism (CT) operations.

• The exercise will showcase Indian-origin weapons and equipment, promoting self-reliance and indigenous capabilities in defence production.