Current Affairs – November 20, 2024

{GS2 – Governance – Laws} Re-evaluating the Safe Harbour Clause

• Context (IE | IE | PIB | SB): Government emphasizes revisiting Safe Harbour provisions under Section 79 of IT Act for a balanced & accountable digital ecosystem, aligned with India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision.

Key Issues in Digital Media

• Fair Compensation: Traditional media needs fair remuneration due to digital platforms’ dominance.
• AI and Intellectual Property: AI uses creators’ data without compensation.

Government Initiatives for Media

• National Press Day 2024 highlighted India’s 35,000 registered newspapers and strong digital infrastructure with affordable data rates.
• The Press Council of India (PCI) promotes journalistic integrity through awards and initiatives to raise awareness among aspiring journalists.
• PIB’s Fact Check Unit to combat fake news and Press and Registration of Periodicals Act 2023, to modernize media regulations.

Need to Revisit the Safe Harbour Clause

• Misinformation and Fake News: Platforms spread unchecked false information, undermining democracy and societal trust, with real-world consequences like riots and terrorism.
• Algorithm Bias: Algorithms promote sensational and divisive content, increasing polarization.
• Impact on Democracy: Biased content threatens democratic values and social harmony, highlighting the need for stronger accountability.
• Localized Responsibility: India’s cultural diversity demands stricter platform responsibilities, moving beyond global norms for better regulation.

Advantages of Revisiting Safe Harbour

• Increased Accountability: Platforms adhere to ethical practices, reducing harmful content.
• Strengthened Trust: Governments and users gain confidence in a regulated ecosystem.
• Enhanced Social Stability: Curtailing divisive content strengthens national unity.

Challenges in Revisiting Safe Harbour

• Balancing Regulation with Innovation: Over-regulation could hinder India’s digital economy and creative growth.
• Impact on Free Speech: Over-regulation may lead to censorship, affecting democratic expression.
• Practical Enforcement: Monitoring billions of real-time interactions poses logistical challenges.
• Operational Costs: Higher compliance & moderation expenses impact smaller players.
• Global Comparisons: Diverse legal frameworks worldwide complicate the implementation of unique accountability standards in India.

Way Forward

• Replace outdated provisions of the IT Act with the Digital India Bill for a modern regulatory framework.
• Ensure algorithm transparency to reveal how content is prioritized and its societal impact.
• Define platform responsibilities in content moderation and misinformation prevention with penalties for non-compliance.
• Ethical algorithm design to minimize harm by reducing biased or divisive content amplification.
• Establish ethical AI frameworks to strike a balance between innovation and safeguarding creator recognition.
• Foster collaboration between government, tech firms, and civil society to create balanced solutions and encourage self-regulation.
• Implement revenue-sharing policies to fairly compensate conventional media and original content creators.
• Develop global and national AI policies to address intellectual property violations and protect creator rights.

{GS2 – IR – EU} Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029

• Context (PIB): At the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni launched the Italy-India Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 to strengthen bilateral ties.

India- Italy: Bilateral Relations

• Regular High-Level Interactions: Frequent meetings between Heads of Government, Foreign Affairs Ministers and Trade Ministers during bilateral and multilateral events.
• Annual Bilateral Consultations: Foreign office dialogues to enhance diplomatic relations.
• Ministerial-Level Engagements: Increased focus on exploring sector-specific partnerships.
• Economic Cooperation: Promoting trade in high-potential sectors like transportation, food processing, green technologies, sustainable mobility and advanced manufacturing.
• Science and Technology Cooperation: Foster collaboration in AI, Industry 4.0, clean energy, digital services and semiconductor manufacturing.
• Industrial Partnerships: Strengthening ties through joint ventures between large corporations and SMEs, including trade fairs and business forums.
• India-Italy Joint Working Group: Leverage cooperation in food processing and connectivity under the Joint Commission for Connectivity.
• India – Middle East – Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) Infrastructure Development: Boost maritime & land infrastructure cooperation, reducing transit times and costs by 40% and 30%, respectively.
• Innovation and Start-ups: Launch Indo-Italian Innovation and Incubation Exchange Programme to support fintech, agritech, and healthcare start-ups.
• STEM Educational Partnerships: Strengthen educational and research ties through scholarships and academic institution collaborations.
• Space Sector Collaboration: Expand ISRO-ASI cooperation in Earth observation, lunar science, and space exploration, with missions planned for Italian space industry representatives in 2025.
• Energy Transition: Strengthen Global Biofuels Alliance and International Solar Alliance and advance renewable energy cooperation in green hydrogen, biofuels and energy efficiency.
• Defence Cooperation: Focus on maritime security, defense technology co-development, and a defense industrial roadmap.
• Security Cooperation: Strengthen counter-terrorism, cyber security dialogues and agreements for classified information protection.
• Migration and Mobility: Create safe migration pathways, train health professionals in India for employment in Italy and facilitate academic mobility.
• Cultural and Tourism Exchange: Promote film co-productions, cultural exchanges and tourism through mutual partnerships between museums and travel sectors.
• Cultural Cooperation Programme: Implement the Executive Programme of Cultural Cooperation (2023) to deepen cultural ties.
• Tech Summits and R&D: Host summits to share industrial best practices and promote joint research in energy technologies.

Significance of the 2025-2029 Plan

• Enhances trade & investment in green technologies, advanced manufacturing & sustainable mobility.
• Boosts participation of SMEs in industrial and technological innovation, fostering collaboration between large corporations and start-ups.
• Strengthens support for multilateral initiatives like IMEC, the Global Biofuels Alliance, and the International Solar Alliance.
• Counters China’s Belt and Road Initiative by promoting connectivity and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Europe.
• Leverages the historical friendship and contributions of the Indian and Italian diaspora communities.
• Builds on existing frameworks such as the 2023 Executive Programme of Cultural Cooperation and Joint Working Groups in food processing and energy.

{GS3 – Agri – Crops} Sustainability Concerns in India’s Tea and Sugar Exports

• Context (TH): India’s rising agricultural exports, especially tea & sugar, boost economic growth but raise concerns about sustainability. Millets can be a sustainable solution.

India’s Agricultural Exports

• Growth: Agri-exports rose from $8.7 billion in 2004-05 to $53.1 billion in 2022-23, a six-fold increase.
• Global Share: 2.4% of global agricultural exports in 2022 (WTO Trade Statistical Review).
• Major Commodities: Rice, wheat, sugar, spices, and cotton dominate exports.
• Export Markets: United States, UAE, Bangladesh, Nepal and Malaysia.

Tea Industry

Present status

• India is the second-largest producer and fourth-largest exporter of tea globally.
• Tea exports stood at 188.76 million kg, valued at $793.78 million in 2022-23.
• Export Destinations: UAE, Russia, Iran, USA, and UK.

Challenges

• Human-Animal Conflict: 70% of tea plantations are near forests, intersecting elephant migratory routes, leading to crop damage and safety issues.
• Pesticide Usage: Synthetic pesticides account for 85% of usage, with residues like DDT and Endosulfan posing health risks such as cancer, diabetes, and neurotoxicity.
• Health Hazards: Prolonged exposure to harmful chemicals, increasing health vulnerabilities.
• Gender Inequity: Over 50% of tea workers are women, often underpaid and subjected to unsafe working conditions.
• Regulatory Gaps: Weak enforcement of Plantations Labour Act, 1951 (amended 2010), fails to address labour rights and safety standards effectively.

Recommendations

• Sustainable Practices: Adopt integrated pest management and enforce pesticide residue limits.
• Wildlife Conservation: Create buffer zones and invest in technology to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
• Labour Rights: Strengthen implementation of labour laws and ensure fair wages.

Sugar Industry

Present status

• India is the second-largest sugar producer, contributing 34 million metric tonnes annually.
• Exports grew 64.9%, generating ₹1 lakh crore in 2021-22.
• Key Markets: Exported to 121 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and UAE.

Challenges

• High Water Consumption: Producing 1 kg of sugar requires 1,500-2,000 liters of water, stressing groundwater resources.
• Irrigation Dependency: Sugarcane and paddy consume 60% of India’s irrigation water, exacerbating water scarcity.
• Ecosystem Degradation: Doubling of sugarcane cultivation in Karnataka and Maharashtra has reduced natural ecosystems like grasslands, leading to biodiversity loss and ecological imbalance.
• Labour Exploitation: Poor working conditions, long hours and rising temperatures expose workers to severe health risks.
• Socio-Economic Vulnerabilities: Workers are trapped in debt cycles and unsafe environments.

Recommendations

• Water Management: Promote drip irrigation, reducing water use by 40-50%.
• Biodiversity Conservation: Diversify cropping patterns and regulate land use.
• Labour Reforms: Enforce safety standards and provide healthcare facilities.

Core Pillars of Sustainable Agriculture

• Ecological Factors: Focus on biodiversity, water resource use, and soil health.
• Economic Aspects: Productivity, profitability and market stability.
• Social Dimensions: Equitable labour practices and community benefits.
• Governance: Policies must integrate environmental, social and economic considerations.

Millets: A Sustainable Model

Key Facts

• Major Varieties: Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Ragi and Foxtail Millet.
• Producers: Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra lead production.

Why Millets?

• Resilience: Drought-resistant and require fewer inputs.
• Environmental Benefits: Preserve soil health and reduce resource dependency.
• Economic Potential: Exports valued at $75.45 million in 2022-23, up from $26.97 million in 2020-21.

Integrated Solutions for Agri-Sustainability

• Environmental Sustainability: Promote eco-friendly practices like crop rotation and precision farming, and strengthen monitoring for pesticide use and water conservation.
• Economic Empowerment: Ensure fair trade policies for small-scale farmers and encourage diversification into sustainable crops like millets.
• Social Equity: Enforce strict labour standards in tea and sugar industries and improve rural education and healthcare for workers.
• Policy Support: Expand subsidies for sustainable technologies like drip irrigation and align exports with global sustainability norms.

{GS3 – Envi – Conservation} Azerbaijan’s COP29 Paradox: Oil vs Climate Action

• Context (TH | BBC | LM | TH): Azerbaijan, hosting COP29, faces scrutiny for prioritizing oil and gas extraction despite global calls for green energy transitions, questioning its climate commitment.

Key Political Statements and Criticism

• Aliyev’s Defense: President Aliyev accuses Western nations of hypocrisy for continuing fossil fuel reliance despite their promotion of green energy.
• Environmentalists criticize Azerbaijan for undermining climate action efforts by continuing fossil fuel production, contributing to a delay in achieving global climate goals.

Azerbaijan’s Role in Global Climate Negotiations

• Host of COP29: As host of COP29, Azerbaijan is positioned to influence climate change solutions but faces scrutiny for its ongoing reliance on fossil fuels.
• Defending Fossil Fuels: President Ilham Aliyev defends oil and gas production as a “gift from god,” citing the global market’s continuing need for these resources despite climate change agreements.
• Economic Reliance: Fossil fuels constitute about 60% of Azerbaijan’s budget, with expansion plans for the sector despite global calls for a transition to renewable energy.

Issues with Azerbaijan’s Fossil Fuel Dependency

• Economic Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Oil and gas account for 90% of Azerbaijan’s exports and a third of its GDP, making it difficult to diversify into renewable energy.
• Transition Challenges: Azerbaijan aims for 30% renewable energy by 2030, but transitioning from fossil fuels remains a major challenge.
• Revenue Loss Risk: Azerbaijan, like other petrostates, faces potential revenue losses of up to $8 trillion by 2040 with moderate green transition efforts.
• Socio–political Instability: Reducing fossil fuel dependence can destabilize the political elite and trigger economic upheavals, a key issue for authoritarian regimes with weak institutions.
• International Divisions: Developed countries’ continued fossil fuel extraction contrasts with the demands of developing nations for climate justice and financial support for clean energy transitions.

Benefits of a Green Transition for Petrostates

• International Credibility: Embracing green energy can boost Azerbaijan’s geopolitical influence and global standing.
• Long-Term Sustainability: Shifting to renewable energy offers economic diversification, reducing vulnerability to the volatile fossil fuel market.
• Investment Opportunities: By diversifying into renewables, Azerbaijan can attract investments, as seen with countries like Saudi Arabia, using sovereign wealth funds to boost green projects.

Disadvantages of Fossil Fuel Dependency

• Missed Climate Targets: Expanding fossil fuel production threatens Azerbaijan’s ability to meet international climate goals, particularly the target to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.
• Environmental Damage: Continued reliance on oil and gas exacerbates climate change, contributing to global warming and environmental degradation.

Way Forward for Global Climate Action

• Balancing Fossil Fuel Use with Green Energy: Azerbaijan must strategically invest in renewable energy while ensuring a gradual and economically viable reduction in fossil fuel dependency.
• Decarbonization Programs: Oil-dependent nations must adopt decarbonization strategies to align with global climate agreements.
• Renewable Energy Expansion: Azerbaijan’s target of achieving 30% renewable energy by 2030 is a step towards reducing fossil fuel dependence and addressing climate change.
• International Cooperation: Enhance climate finance for developing nations, foster technology-sharing agreements and establish global carbon pricing mechanisms.
• Private Sector Engagement: To mitigate investment risks, private financing must be attracted to green energy projects, ensuring the broader transition to a green economy.
• Institutional Reforms: Mandate net-zero emissions by 2050 and expand renewable energy to 30% of the energy mix by 2030.
• Human Rights and Civil Society Protection: Effective climate action requires protecting environmental activists, journalists and civil society to ensure progress and transparency.

{GS3 – S&T – Tech} Silicon-Carbon Batteries

• Context (IE): Silicon-carbon batteries, used in new flagship Android smartphones, offer higher energy density and faster charging compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

What are Silicon-Carbon Batteries?

• Silicon-carbon batteries are an advanced type of battery technology that uses a silicon-carbon composite for the anode instead of the traditional graphite used in lithium-ion batteries.
• This allows for higher energy storage capacity and improved performance.

Difference Between Silicon and Lithium-Ion Batteries

{Prelims – Awards} Green World Awards

• Context (PIB): Coal India Ltd (CIL) received the Green World Awards 2024 in London in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) category along with the distinguished title of Green World Ambassador.

• This award has been given to CIL for exemplary work in the field of CSR, i.e. Thalassemia Bal Sewa Yojna for permanent curative treatment of more than 600 Thalassemia patients through stem cell transplant, also known as Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT).

About Green World Awards

• Launch Year: 1994
• Organiser: The Green Organisation
• Purpose: To recognise and reward environmental best practices and CSR efforts.
• Categories: Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards in various environmental categories.
• Green World Champion: The highest scorer in each category is declared a Green World Champion.
• Champion of Champions: The overall highest scorer is declared the Green World Champion of Champions and gets the honour of hosting the next year’s awards in their country at no cost.
• Eligibility: Open to companies, organisations, governments, ministries, departments, agencies, and individuals who have made significant contributions to the environment.
• Entry Process: Entries are invited from anyone working within commerce, industry, national, regional, or local government. Multiple entries can be submitted in different categories.

{Prelims – Envi – Species} Cicadas

• Context (TH): Triple emergence of Periodical cicadas in North America for the first time in last 1,547 years. It’s the first time since dual emergence in 1803.
• Periodical cicadas have multiple life cyles. Triple emergence if three types of these emerge at once, dual emergence if two types emerge together.

Source: National Wildlife Federation

About Cicadas

• Cicadas belong to the order Hemiptera and the superfamily Cicadoidea. They are known as true bugs, featuring mouthparts designed for piercing and sucking, along with two pairs of wings.
• Life Cycle: Cicadas spend the majority of their lives underground, where they develop and feed on plant sap. Their underground phase can last for many years.
• Habitat: Most cicadas are canopy dwellers found in natural forests with large trees.
• Geographic Distribution: Cicadas are present on every continent except Antarctica. India and Bangladesh exhibit the highest genetic diversity of cicadas, followed by China.
• Emergence: Cicadas have intricate life cycles involving prolonged underground development and brief adult emergence. Three species emerge every 17 years, and three species that emerge every 13 years.

• Characteristics:
  • Cicadas don’t bite or sting, nor do they carry any diseases.
  • The bugs are beneficial to the environment, acting as natural tree gardeners.
  • The holes they leave behind when they emerge from the ground help aerate the soil, allow rainwater to get underground, and nourish tree roots in summer.

{Prelims – In News} Aphantasia

• Context (IE): A recent study explores the connection between auditory and visual senses in people with aphantasia, revealing that their brains show reduced activity in the visual cortex when processing sounds.

What is Aphantasia?

• Aphantasia is a phenomenon where individuals cannot form or use mental images during their thinking or imagination processes. It is not categorised as a medical condition, disorder, or disability but rather a characteristic similar to being right or left-handed.

Source: clevelandclinic

• Imagination involves the brain simulating experiences based on knowledge or past events. This can involve seeing, hearing, tasting, and more.
• In Aphantasia, the mind’s eye doesn’t visualise things, so the imagination functions differently.
• Aphantasia isn’t a medical or mental health condition, so it doesn’t need treatment.

Forms of Aphantasia

• Congenital Aphantasia: Since birth, one may not realise their lack of mental imagery is uncommon.
• Acquired Aphantasia: Develops later in life, often due to injury, illness, or a mental health condition.

Causes of Aphantasia

• Possible genetic link, as it tends to run in families.
• It might be a form of neurodiversity, where the brain functions differently from the norm. Neurodiversity includes conditions like autism spectrum disorder, which has genetic ties and overlaps with aphantasia.
• It can result from brain injuries, strokes, or drug use.

{Prelims – In News} AroTrack: Water-Pollutant Detector Device

• Context (TH): IIT Bombay scientists have developed AroTrack, a portable device for detecting harmful pollutants in water like phenol, benzene, and xylenols, addressing water pollution concerns.

Features

• Biosensor Technology: AroTrack utilises proteins from bacteria that thrive in polluted environments to identify aromatic pollutants.
• Chemical Reaction Mechanism: The protein in the biosensor undergoes ATP hydrolysis when aromatic compounds are present, resulting in a colour change detectable by the device.
• MopR Biosensing Module: Developed from the Acinetobacter calcoaceticus bacteria, MopR is a sensitive sensor for detecting phenol. Modified MopR detects other benzene and xylenol pollutants.
• Detection Range and Efficiency: AroTrack detects aromatic pollutants in concentrations as low as 10-200 parts per billion, matching the accuracy of modern spectrophotometers.

{Prelims – PIN India} Hindon River

• Context (DTE): The Hindon River has become highly polluted due to industrial effluents and inadequate sewage treatment facilities, making its water toxic and impacting the health of local communities in UP.

About Hindon River

• The Hindon River is a tributary of the Yamuna River and primarily relies on rainfall.
• Source: Originates from the lower Shivalik ranges in Saharanpur District, Uttar Pradesh.
• Flow: Travels across the industrial belt of Western Uttar Pradesh for approximately 400 kilometres before merging with the Yamuna River in Noida.
• Main Tributaries: Kali (West) River and the Krishni River.
• Pollution Issue: Urban, agricultural, and industrial wastes are released into the river without adequate treatment. It is one of the most polluted sections of the Ganga basin.
• 2015 CPCB Report: The Central Pollution Control Board declared the Hindon a ‘dead river’ in 2015 due to its severe pollution levels, rendering it ‘unfit’ even for bathing in several sections.

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)

• It is a statutory body established under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
• It was later empowered with responsibilities under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• CPCB provides technical services to the Ministry of Environment and Forests in line with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Principal Functions

• Water Pollution: Promotes the cleanliness of streams and wells across various states by preventing, controlling, and reducing water pollution.
• Air Pollution: Enhances air quality and works towards preventing, controlling, and reducing air pollution.
• Advisory Role: Advises the Central govt on air and water pollution control and abatement matters.

{Prelims – PIN World – SA} Chancay Port, Peru

• Context (IE): China is growing its trade power in South America by building a new port in Chancay, Peru.

About Chancay Port

• Objective: To transform Peru into a major commercial and port hub, connecting South America and Asia.
• Ownership: Primarily owned by the Chinese state-owned company, Cosco Shipping, which holds a 60% stake. This marks China’s first control of a port in South America.
• Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): It is a Part of China’s investments in Latin America under BRI Initiative.

Significance of the Project

• Resource Access for China: Provides direct access to South America’s resource-rich region. China has become South America’s leading trade partner, surpassing the U.S.
• Regional Export Hub: Chancay will become an important hub for exporting copper from Peru and soy from western Brazil, streamlining routes that currently pass through the Panama Canal or the Atlantic.
• Strengthening Bilateral Relations: Enhances trade relations between Peru and China, with China holding a bilateral trade lead of over $10 billion.

About Peru

• Location: Located in western South America, entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Borders: Shares borders with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south.
• Economy: Peru is the world’s second-largest copper producer and also produces gold, zinc.
• Main import goods: Petroleum oils, transmitter equipment, automobiles.
• Main import partners: China (23.3%), United States (21.3%), Brazil (5.6%).