Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: AI and deepfakes
Mains level: Paper 3- Deepfakes and threats associated with it
Deepfakes creates media in which it challenges our ability to detect real from fake, it blurs the line between two. This article explains the threat associated with it.
What are deepfakes and threat associated with it
- Deepfakes are synthetic media (including images, audio and video) that are either manipulated or wholly generated by Artificial Intelligence.
- AI is used for fabricating audios, videos and texts to show real people saying and doing things they never did, or creating new images and videos.
- These are done so convincingly that it is hard to detect what is fake and what is real.
- They are used to tarnish reputations, create mistrust, question facts, and spread propaganda.
Legal provision in India
- Deepfakes even have the power to threaten the electoral outcome.
- So far, India has not enacted any specific legislation to deal with deepfakes.
- However, there are some provisions in the Indian Penal Code that criminalise certain forms of online/social media content manipulation.
- The Information Technology Act, 2000 covers certain cybercrimes.
- But this law and the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines (Amendment) Rules, 2018 are inadequate to deal with content manipulation on digital platforms.
- The guidelines stipulate that due diligence must be observed by the intermediate companies for removal of illegal content.
- In 2018, the government proposed rules to curtail the misuse of social networks.
- Social media companies voluntarily agreed to take action to prevent violations during the 2019 general election.
- The Election Commission issued instructions on social media use during election campaigns.
How to deal with the problem of deepfakes
- Only AI-generated tools can be effective in detection.
- Blockchains are robust against many security threats and can be used to digitally sign and affirm the validity of a video or document.
- Educating media users about the capabilities of AI algorithms could help.
- Six themes identified in the workshop convened by the University of Washington and Microsoft are to dela with the deepfakes
- 1) Deepfakes must be contextualised within the broader framework of malicious manipulated media, computational propaganda and disinformation campaigns.
- 2) Deepfakes cause multidimensional issues which require a collaborative, multi-stakeholder response that require experts in every sector to find solutions.
- 3) Detecting deepfakes is hard.
- 4) Journalists need tools to scrutinise images, video and audio recordings for which they need training and resources;
- 5) Policymakers must understand how deepfakes can threaten polity, society, economy, culture, individuals and communities.
- 6) Any true evidence can be dismissed as fake is a major concern that needs to be addressed.
Consider the question “What are the deepfakes and threats associated with it? How these threats can be tackled?”
Conclusion
In today’s world, disinformation comes in varied forms, so no single technology can resolve the problem. As deepfakes evolve, AI-backed technological tools to detect and prevent them must also evolve.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 254 of Indian Constitution
Mains level: Paper 2- RERA and its benefits to the consumers
The article highlights the various provision of RERA and its overall impact on the sector.
How it changed the real estate sector
- Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) was enacted in 2016 and it had been in the works for more than a decade.
- RERA has infused governance in a hitherto unregulated sector.
- Along with demonetization and GST, it has, to a large extent, cleansed the real estate sector of black money.
- It has transformational provisions, conscientiously addressing issues that have been a constant bane for the sector.
Important provisions of RERA
- The Act stipulates that no project can be sold without project plans being approved by the competent authority and the project is registered with the regulatory authority.
- This provision ended the practice of selling on the basis of deceitful advertisements.
- Promoters are required to maintain “project-based separate bank accounts” to prevent fund diversion.
- The mandatory disclosure of unit sizes based on “carpet area” strikes at the root of unfair trade practices.
- The provision for payment of “equal rate of interest” by the promoter or the buyer in case of default reinforces equity.
- These and many other provisions have empowered consumers, rectifying the power asymmetry prevalent in the sector.
How RERA is an effort in cooperative federalism
- Though the Act has been piloted by the Central government, the rules are to be notified by state governments.
- The regulatory authorities and the appellate tribunals are also to be appointed by them.
- The regulatory authorities are required to manage the day-to-day operations, resolve disputes, and run an active and informative website for project information.
- Since RERA came into full force, 34 states and Union territories have notified the rules, 30 states and Union territories have set up real estate regulatory authorities and 26 have set up appellate tribunals.
- The operationalization of a web-portal for project information, which is at the heart of ensuring full project transparency, has been operationalized by 26 regulatory authorities.
- Around 60,000 projects and 45,723 real estate agents have been registered with regulatory authorities.
- Twenty-two independent judicial officers have been appointed to redress consumer disputes, and 59,649 complaints have been disposed-off.
Consider the question “What were the various problems faced by the consumers in real estate sector? How various provisions in RERA helped in the protection of consumers’ interests?”
Conclusion
RERA is to the real estate sector what SEBI is to the securities market. It helped consumers from the various malpractices in the real estate sector.
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India-Nepal Joint Commission meeting took place at a time when Nepal in going through a political turmoil. The article examines the issues discussed in the meeting and how its implications for the bilateral relations between the two countries.
India-Nepal joint commission meeting amid political chaos in Nepal
- Recently, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal visited New Delhi for the sixth meeting of the India-Nepal Joint Commission.
- Nepal’s Prime Minister dissolved the House of Representatives in late December 2020, the move was termed ‘unconstitutional’ by the experts and the country’s Supreme Court is hearing writ petitions against the move.
- As a unique characteristic, Nepal’s internal political fundamentals continue to shape its foreign policy choices.
- In such a scenario, any inbound or outbound delegation is seen from a different prism.
Issues discussed in the meeting
1) Progress on the development partnership front
- On the development partnership front, the expansion of the Motihari-Amlekhganj petroleum products pipelines to Chitwan and the establishment of a new pipeline on the eastern side connecting Siliguri to Jhapa in Nepal formed a part of the discussions.
- The operating procedures for commencement of train services of the first passenger railway line between India and Nepal from Jaynagar to Kurtha via Janakpurhave have been discussed.
- Other cross-border rail connectivity projects, including a possible Raxaul-Kathmandu broad gauge railway line, were also discussed.
- The joint hydropower projects, including the proposed Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project, should get positive momentum following this round of meetings.
2) Facilitating the cross-border movement of people
- The recently inaugurated Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) at Birgunj and Biratnagar have helped in the seamless movement of people and trade between the two countries.
- The construction of a third integrated check post at Nepalgunj has already commenced, while the new integrated check post at Bhairahwa would begin shortly.
- Since Nepal relies on India’s seaports in a big way for trading, and goods are transported by road, the integrated check posts are expected to ease trade and transit.
3) Border issue
- Nepali side’s demand to include the boundary in the Joint Commission Meeting.
- However, India made it clear to find a fresh mechanism to resolve any such crucial long-pending issue.
4) New direction to bilateral ties
- India’s support for two more cultural heritage projects in Nepal, namely, the Pashupatinath Riverfront Development and the Bhandarkhal Garden Restoration in Patan Durbar is significant.
- Nepal expressed support for India’s permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council (UNSC) to reflect the changed balance of power.
- The next meeting of the Joint Commission in Nepal should be crucial in giving a new direction to the bilateral ties, keeping a balance between change and continuity.
India’s deepening engagement with all sections
- There is growing disenchantment among the Nepali masses over the increased centralization of power, failure of the Provincial System in addressing the developmental issues, misuse of Presidential authority, and unprecedented corruption.
- While the unusual developments are taking place in Nepal, there are many who still think that India is comfortable with some changes as its Nepal policy is heading very clearly towards a deeper engagement with all sections.
Consider the question “How India-Nepal ties are affected by the internal political fundamentals in Nepal? What approach should be adopted by India in dealing with Nepal?”
Conclusion
Nepal cannot afford to enter into another round of political instability, and those who have commanding authority to spearhead India-Nepal bilateral relations must give a humane consideration to it. At the crossroads, Nepal needs action and to come to terms with realities.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Question Hour
Mains level: Parliamentary control
Question Hour, which had been suspended by the government during the monsoon session, will resume when Parliament meets for the budget session.
Q.Discuss the various instruments of Parliamentary Control in India.
Must read edition: [Burning Issue] Quashing of the Question Hour
What is Question Hour?
- Question Hour is the liveliest hour in Parliament. It is during this one hour that MPs ask questions of ministers and hold them accountable for the functioning of their ministries.
- Prior to Independence, the first question asked of government was in 1893. It was on the burden cast on village shopkeepers who had to provide supplies to touring government officers.
- The questions that MPs ask are designed to elicit information and trigger suitable action by ministries.
- Over the last 70 years, MPs have successfully used this parliamentary device to shine a light on government functioning.
- Their questions have exposed financial irregularities and brought data and information regarding government functioning to the public domain.
- With the broadcasting since 1991, Question Hour has become one of the most visible aspects of parliamentary functioning.
Its evolution
- The right to question the executive has been exercised by members of the House from the colonial period.
- The first Legislative Council in British India under the Charter Act, 1853, showed some degree of independence by giving members the power to ask questions to the executive.
- Later, the Indian Council Act of 1861 allowed members to elicit information by means of questions.
- However, it was the Indian Council Act, 1892, which formulated the rules for asking questions including short notice questions.
- The next stage of the development of procedures related to questions came up with the framing of rules under the Indian Council Act, 1909, which incorporated provisions for asking supplementary questions by members.
- The Montague-Chelmsford reforms brought forth a significant change in 1919 by incorporating a rule that the first hour of every meeting was earmarked for questions. Parliament has continued this tradition.
- In 1921, there was another change. The question, on which a member desired to have an oral answer, was distinguished by him with an asterisk, a star. This marked the beginning of starred questions.
Its significance
- Question Hour is not only an opportunity for the members to raise questions, but it is a parliamentary device primarily meant for exercising legislative control over executive actions.
- The government’s actions erode the constitutional mandate of parliamentary oversight over executive actions as envisaged under Article 75 (3) of the Indian Constitution.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Article 21
Mains level: Right to Privacy
The Government of India has asked WhatsApp to withdraw the proposed changes in its privacy policy.
Q.What are the factors responsible for the spread of misinformation on social media? Suggest the measures to tackle it.
Core of the news
- WhatsApp has been embroiled in a controversy over its updated privacy policy.
- The posts are pointers on the new policy.
What was the news Privacy Policy?
- When one goes to the status tab on the app, one can see the WhatsApp icon and its four posts, along with the statuses of one’s contacts.
- While one reads ‘We are committed to your privacy’, another reads, ‘WhatsApp can’t read or listen to your personal conversations as they’re end-to-end encrypted’.
- Another post reads ‘WhatsApp can’t see your shared location’ and yet another reads ‘WhatsApp doesn’t share your contacts with Facebook’.
- The messaging app reviewed its privacy policy and asked users to accept the terms and conditions by February 8. Following this, the app faced severe backlash from its users and privacy advocates.
Issues pointed by Govt.
- said that the proposed changes raised “grave concerns” over the implications of the choice and the autonomy of Indian citizens.
- It pointed out that the Indian users, who have not been given the option to opt-out of data-sharing with Facebook companies, were being subjected to differential treatment.
- The issue is the impact it has on informational privacy, data security and user choice.
Data at stake
- The government asked WhatsApp to reconsider its approach to respect the informational privacy, freedom of choice and data security of Indian citizens.
- It said that India’s distinct identity and its people must be properly respected and any unilateral changes to WhatsApp Terms of Service and Privacy would not be fair and acceptable.
A discriminatory move
- India formed the largest segment of WhatsApp’s user base globally and any change in policies would have a disproportionate impact on its citizens.
- The privacy policy offered by WhatsApp to its European users specifically prohibits the use of any information shared with a Facebook company for those companies’ own purposes.
- This Clause is not present in the privacy policy offered to Indian users.
- This differential and discriminatory treatment of Indian and European users is attracting serious criticism and betrays a lack of respect for the rights and interest of Indian citizens.
What lies ahead?
- India has a huge user base of WhatsApp and Facebook in India.
- The consolidation of sensitive information exposes a very large segment of Indian citizens to greater information security risks.
- By not providing Indian users with the ability to opt-out of this data sharing with other Facebook companies, WhatsApp is treating users with an ‘all-or-nothing’ approach.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not Much
Mains level: Parliamentary behavior and decency
Food served in Parliament canteen is set to cost more as it will no longer be subsidised, Lok Sabha Speaker has informed.
I say there is no darkness, but ignorance.
-William Shakespeare
Why in news?
- The low rate of food in the Parliament canteen has often attracted controversy, with critics objecting to lawmakers enjoying a cheap meal at the taxpayers’ expense.
- Others have pointed out that the subsidy doesn’t benefit just MPs, as a host of other Parliament staff and security personnel also take their meals at the canteen.
- However, in 2019, all MPs had unanimously decided to do away with the subsidy.
- The annual revenue from Parliament catering was to the tune of Rs 15 to Rs 18 crore. It could annually save more than Rs 8 crore with the subsidy coming to an end.
Parliament Canteen Subsidy
- A major furore over the subsidy had erupted in 2015 when a reply to an RTI query which revealed that the canteen got a subsidy of Rs 14 crore every year.
- The item list received under the RTI Act revealed that items like ‘fish fried with chips’ were available at Rs 25, mutton cutlet at Rs 18, boiled vegetables at Rs 5, mutton curry with bone at Rs 20 and masala dosa at Rs 6.
- These were the rates subsidised by 63 per cent, 65 per cent, 83 per cent, 67 per cent and 75 per cent respectively.
- The caterers were being paid by the Ministry of Finance through Parliament.
Was the entire amount being spent on MPs’ food?
- Apart from food, the subsidy is used for other expenses, like salaries of canteen staff. Also, many other people apart from the MPs use the canteen.
- In fact, when the RTI query had been filed in 2015, the sales in the canteen for when Parliament was in session and when it wasn’t were almost the same.
- Of the total subsidy of Rs 14 crore revealed by the RTI query, about Rs 11-12 crore would go towards the salary of the staff manning the canteen.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: SC Bose and his legacy
Mains level: Freedom struggle
The Union Culture Ministry has announced that January 23, birth anniversary of Subhash Chandra Bose, would be celebrated as “Parakram Diwas” — the day of courage — every year.
Try this PYQ
Q.Highlight the difference in the approach of Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi in the struggle for freedom. (150 W)
Subhash Chandra Bose (1897-1945)
- Bose was an Indian revolutionary prominent in the independence movement against British rule of India.
- He also led an Indian national force from abroad against the Western powers during World War II.
- He was a contemporary of Mohandas K. Gandhi, at times an ally and at other times an adversary.
- He was highly influenced by a socialist ideology that acquired popularity as consequences of the Russian Revolution.
Forget not that the grossest crime is to compromise with injustice and wrong. Remember the eternal law: You must give if you want to get.
– Netaji
Association with INC
- In 1927, after being released from prison, Bose became general secretary of the Congress and worked with Jawaharlal Nehru for independence.
- In late December 1928, Bose organised the Annual Meeting of the Indian National Congress (INC) in Calcutta.
- Subsequently, Bose wanted to get elected as Congress President in a subsequent session of 1939 convened at Tripuri.
- However, his candidature was challenged by Mahatma Gandhi who wanted to prevent socialist orientation to the Indian National Movement.
- Gandhi proposed Pattabhi Sitaramaya for this candidature.
- In this election, Bose emerged victorious by a huge margin which was not acceptable to Mahatma Gandhi.
- Congress leader supported Mahatma Gandhi and forced Subhash Chandra Bose to step down from Presidentship.
- Under such collective pressure, Bose not only resigned from the Congress members. Thereafter he established a separate political party known as “Forward Bloc”.
Escape to Germany
- On the outbreak of WW-II, Bose advocated a campaign of mass civil disobedience to protest against Linlithgow’s decision to declare war on India’s behalf without consulting the Congress leadership.
- Having failed to persuade Gandhi of the necessity of this, he was house arrested from where he escaped to Germany.
- He then went to several countries of Europe and finally landed in a region of Singapore in “South East Asia”.
Azad Hind Fauj
- The SE Asia region was under the control of Japan where a large number of “Indian Prisoners of War” was confined.
- When Subhash Chandra Bose reached Singapore in1943 this army was led by a prominent revolutionary Ras Behari Bose whose cadre was known as “Indian National Army”.
- Subhash Chandra Bose reorganized and expanded this force in order to liberate India. This force was renamed as “Azad Hind Fauj” by him.
The Azad Hind Government
- The Provisional Government of Free India, or, more simply, Free India (Azad Hind), was an Indian provisional government established in occupied Singapore in 1943.
- C. Bose was the leader of Azad Hind Government (AHG) and also the Head of State of this Provisional Indian Government-in-exile.
- It was a part of the freedom movement, originating in the 1940s outside India with a purpose of allying with Axis powers to free India from British rule.
Its collapse and INA Trials
- INA under the leadership of Bose got defeated severely at Rangoon due to lack of support of Japanese.
- Bose was suggested to leave Burma to continue his struggle for Indian independence and returned to Singapore before the fall of Rangoon.
- The AHG govt in the islands collapsed when the island garrisons of Japanese and Indian troops were defeated by British troops and the islands themselves retaken.
- The Provisional Government of Free India ceased to exist with the deaths of the Axis, the INA, and Bose in 1945.
- It was followed by the Famous Trials at Red Fort.
Also read:
In news: 1946 Royal Indian Navy Mutiny
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Not Much
Mains level: World History: American decolonization
The White House has released the 1776 Commission report, just days before president-elect Joe Biden would take his oath in office.
Read about anti-apartheid movement from your World History sources.
What is the news?
- Earlier, Trump has signed an executive order to set up a “national commission to promote patriotic education” in the country.
- The initiative dubbed the ‘1776 Commission’, is an apparent counter to The 1619 Project, a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of essays on African American history of the past four centuries.
- It explores the Black community’s contribution to nation-building since the era of slavery to modern times.
- The name marks the independence of 13 US colonies from the British Empire in 1776.
What is Trump’s 1776 Commission?
- With this move, Trump sought to activate his right-wing supporters by doubling down on what he described as “cancel culture”, “critical race theory” and “revisionist history”.
- Looking at the racial attacks, trump had said that Americans are inundated with critical race theory.
- This was a Marxist doctrine holding that America is a wicked and racist nation, that even young children are complicit in oppression.
- Trump wanted to reform this idea and wanted to portray himself as a defender of traditional American heritage against “radical” liberals.”
What was the 1619 Project?
- The Project is a special initiative of The New York Times Magazine, launched in 2019 to mark the completion of 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived in colonial Virginia’s Jamestown in August 1619.
- The project aimed to reframe US history by considering what it would mean to regard 1619 as America’s birth year.
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Note4Students
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Exercise Desert Knight-21
Mains level: India-France defence cooperation
Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force will conduct a bilateral Air exercise, Ex Desert Knight-21 at Air Force Station Jodhpur.
All-time generic question seeking ‘match the pairs’ can be asked from the news as such. Click here for more exercises.
Ex. Desert Knight-21
- The French side will participate with Rafale, Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), A-400M Tactical Transport aircraft and approximately 175 personnel.
- The IAF aircraft participating in the exercise will include Mirage 2000, Su-30 MKI, Rafale, IL-78 Flight Refuelling Aircraft, AWACS and AEW&C aircraft.
- The exercise marks an important milestone in the series of engagements between the two Air forces.
- As part of Indo-French defence cooperation, Indian Air Force and French Air and Space Force have held six editions of Air Exercises named ‘Garuda’, the latest being in 2019.
- Presently, the French detachment for Ex Desert Knight-21 is deployed in Asia as part of their ‘Skyros Deployment’ and will ferry in forces to Air Force Station Jodhpur.
Why it is special?
- The exercise is unique as it includes fielding of Rafale aircraft by both sides and is indicative of the growing interaction between the two premiers Air Forces.
- It will put into practice operational experience gained across terrains and spectrums and endeavour to exchange ideas and best practices to enhance interoperability.
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