From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Budapest Convention
Mains level: Internal and External Security; Challenges of Cybersecurity in India
Why in the News?
Over 5,000 unemployed/employed Indians are reportedly trapped in Cambodia and forced to work into cyber fraud, resulting in an estimated Rs 500 crore loss in India over six months.
Present Cybersecurity Status of India:
India has secured 10th rank in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2020 by ITU (International Telecommunication Union) by moving up 37 places.
The US topped (1st), followed by the UK (United Kingdom) and Saudi Arabia tied for the second position together.
India secured the fourth position in the Asia Pacific region.
What is the Budapest Convention? Is India a party to it?
The Council of Europe’s (CoE) Cybercrime Convention, commonly known as the Budapest Convention, was opened for signature in 2001 and came into force in 2004.
It is the only legally binding international multilateral treaty on cybercrime, coordinating investigations between nations and criminalizing specific cybercrime activities.
Budapest Convention is supplemented by a Protocol addressing xenophobia and racism committed through computer systems.
As of now, the Convention has 56 member countries, including the US and UK. However, India is not a party to the Budapest Convention.
Indian Nationals vs. Organised Crimes in the South Asian Region:
Most web applications use the Chinese language to perform financial fraud, thereby not ruling out the Chinese connection.
Financial crimes such as digital arrest, stock market scams, investment scams, and romance or dating scams account for a loss of over ₹1,776 crores in 89,054 cases in the first four months of the year spurt in organized crime from Southeast Asia.
Numerous Indian nationals employed within a suspected fraudulent operation based in Sihanouk City, Cambodia, have voiced their grievances against their employers.
What are the causes of the increase in Organized Financial Fraud?
Weak Prevention Measures: Online Platforms in India at present account for 89% of all fraud incidents, with 40% of companies losing over $1 million.
Rapid Digitization and Payment Systems: After the pandemic, there was a massive shift, with the average Indian company now operating at least more than two online platforms in the normal course of business.
This has made it easier for fraudsters to operate anonymously and target a large number of victims.
Informal Investigation and Prosecution: India lacks the standardized data formats protocol system from the core banks itself. This makes it difficult to track devices and jurisdictional issues in interstate cases.
Lack of Deterrence: With only 26% of victims able to recover lost funds, fraudsters are encouraged to target individuals and organizations. The total value of frauds reported in 2021-22 was a staggering ₹60,414 crore.
Lack of Awareness: Sharing sensitive financial details with others or storing them insecurely it makes a common man vulnerable to fraud.
What are the Initiatives taken by the government to tackle cyber crimes in India?
National Cyber Security Strategy 2020: Currently being formulated to enhance cyber awareness and strengthen cybersecurity through more rigorous audits.
Draft Personal Data Protection Bill, 2018: Based on the recommendations of the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee, this bill aims to secure citizens’ data.
Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C): Approved in October 2018, this initiative addresses all types of cybercrimes in a comprehensive and coordinated manner.
National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In): Functions as the nodal agency for coordinating all cybersecurity efforts, emergency responses, and crisis management.
National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC): Established to protect and ensure the resilience of critical information infrastructure.
Way Forward:
Update and Enforce Laws: Regularly update the Information Technology Act and other relevant laws to address emerging cyber threats and ensure strict enforcement.
Upgrade Cyber Defense Systems: Invest in advanced cybersecurity technologies and infrastructure to protect critical information systems.
Training Law Enforcement: Provide specialized training for law enforcement agencies to equip them with the skills needed to investigate and prosecute cybercrimes.
Collaborate with Industry: Foster partnerships between the government and private sector to share threat intelligence and best practices.
Mains question for practice:
Q Discuss the current challenges of cybersecurity in India, citing examples of recent trends in cybercrime. What measures have been taken by the Indian government to address these challenges? 15M
Mains PYQ
Q What are the different elements of cyber security? Keeping in view the challenges in cyber security, examine the extent to which India has successfully developed a comprehensive National Cyber Security Strategy.(UPSC IAS/2022)
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: El Nino ,La Nina and ENSO
Mains level: NA
Why in the news?
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recently forecasted that La nina will affect the Indian monsoon in August and September.
What are El nino and La nina?
El Nino and La Nina are climate phenomena resulting from ocean-atmosphere interactions in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, significantly influencing global weather patterns.
El Nino (meaning “little boy” in Spanish) occurs when weak trade winds allow warm surface waters to accumulate near South America, reducing the usual upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water. This leads to warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures.
La Nina (meaning “little girl” in Spanish) involves strong trade winds pushing warm water towards Asia, increasing upwelling and resulting in cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures along South America.
Together with a neutral phase, they form the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.
How could the incoming La Nina impact global weather?
Temperatures
Global temperatures are likely to decrease compared to the recent record-breaking heat during the 2023-2024 El Nino event.
However, despite the cooling effect of La Nina, temperatures will still be higher than in previous decades due to the long-term warming trend from greenhouse gas emissions.
Rainfall
La Nina typically brings drier conditions to parts of Southeast Asia, Australia, and the southern United States.
Wetter than normal conditions are expected in parts of South America and eastern Africa.
Tropical Storms
La Nina is associated with increased tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean and fewer storms in the Pacific.
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season could see more intense storms due to La nina conditions.
Economic Impacts
Droughts and floods linked to La nina can negatively impact agriculture, food security, and infrastructure in affected regions.
Fishing communities in the eastern Pacific may face reduced catches due to cooler ocean temperatures.
La nina’s impact on India
Positive Impact on Monsoons
La Nina generally leads to above-average monsoon rainfall in India. Since 1950, out of the 13 droughts India faced, only one was during a La nina year.
The extended La Nina event in 2022 led to a change in wind patterns, with winds blowing from north to south instead of the usual northwesterly direction.
This caused pollutants from agricultural burning in northern states to bypass Delhi and reach southern regions like Mumbai.
Negative Impacts
La Nina can sometimes lead to heavy rains and floods in some parts of India, while the Western Ghats may receive average or below-average rainfall.
Winter rainfall is less than normal in north India, and snowfall over the Western Himalayas is also lower than usual during La Nina years.
Farmers may be at risk of losing their standing Kharif crops if heavy rains occur during this period.
Is climate change affecting EnSO?
El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a global climate phenomenon that emerges from variations in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Climate change is likely impacting the ENSO cycle, potentially altering the frequency and intensity of El Nino and La Nina events.
Studies suggest that global warming may change mean oceanic conditions in the Pacific, possibly leading to more frequent or intense El Nino events.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated that climate change is expected to influence extreme weather events associated with EnSO, including more severe droughts, floods, and heatwaves.
Way Forward:
Develop more accurate climate models for better prediction of EnSO events and their impacts.
Foster international collaboration to share data, resources, and strategies for managing EnSO-related challenges.
BACK2BASICS
India Meteorological Department (IMD)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), established in 1875, serves as the national Meteorological Service and is the principal government agency responsible for meteorology and related subjects in India.
Operating under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, IMD is headquartered in New Delhi.
IMD is one of the six Regional Specialized Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization.
Mains PYQ:
Q Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-nino effect. Do you agree? (UPSC IAS/2014)
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: BIMSTEC;
Mains level: Significance of BIMSTEC for all member countries;
Why in the News?
The Ministry of External Affairs has announced that with the establishment of its inaugural charter on May 20th, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will now accept new members and observers.
About BIMSTEC:
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) formed in 1997 is a multilateral regional organization comprising seven member states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Myanmar, and India.
Aim: To promote technical and economic cooperation among its member countries, particularly in sectors such as security, connectivity, trade, agriculture, environment, science and technology, and people-to-people contact.
Adoption of the Charter:
After years of deliberation, the BIMSTEC leaders adopted the organization’s first charter during their 5th summit.
This charter provides a legal framework for the group, granting it a “legal personality” and enabling the structured diplomatic dialogue with other countries and regional groupings.
In the context of international organizations like BIMSTEC, obtaining legal personality means that the organization is recognized as a legal entity in its own right, separate from its member states.
Significance of BIMSTEC for all member countries:
The charter’s implementation enhances cooperation and deeper integration within the Bay of Bengal region, benefiting all member states economically and strategically.
Enhanced Cooperation: With the charter in place, member countries can engage in more structured and organized cooperation across various sectors such as security, connectivity, trade, agriculture, environment, science and technology, and people-to-people contact.
Strengthened Regional Integration: The charter facilitates deeper integration within the Bay of Bengal region. By establishing common goals and mechanisms for cooperation, it promotes economic growth, social development, and cultural exchange among member countries.
Diplomatic Dialogue: The charter enables BIMSTEC to enter into structured diplomatic dialogue with other countries and regional groupings. This opens up avenues for broader engagement and partnership, enhancing the geopolitical significance of the BIMSTEC platform.
Challenges in the present world context:
Historical Discord: Long-standing historical discord between member states, such as Bangladesh and Myanmar, presents a challenge to cohesive cooperation within BIMSTEC. These tensions can hinder progress on joint initiatives and impede the organization’s effectiveness.
Geopolitical Complexities: Geopolitical complexities, exacerbated by events like the Rohingya refugee crisis and the coup in Myanmar, add layers of complexity to regional dynamics.
These complexities can strain relationships between member states and complicate efforts to foster collaboration and integration within BIMSTEC.
Stagnation of SAARC: While BIMSTEC offers an alternative platform for regional cooperation, the near stagnation of SAARC underscores the challenges faced by regional organizations in fostering meaningful collaboration.
Way forward:
Need a Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Implement effective conflict resolution mechanisms to address historical discord and tensions between member states.
High Diplomatic Engagement: Encourage regular diplomatic engagement and dialogue between member states to address geopolitical complexities and build trust.
Mains PYQ
Q Do you think that BIMSTEC is a parallel organization like the SAARC? What are the similarities and dissimilarities between the two? How are Indian foreign policy objectives realized by forming this new organization? (UPSC IAS/2022)
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Xenotransplantation, Crispr-Cas9
Mains level: NA
Why in the News?
The recent passing away of Richard Slayman, the first recipient of a modified pig kidney transplant, has drawn attention to xenotransplantation—an innovative medical procedure with the potential to revolutionise organ transplantation.
What is Xenotransplantation?
It involves transplanting live cells, tissues, or organs from nonhuman animal sources into human recipients.
It seeks to address the critical gap between organ demand and supply.
Xenotransplantation, pioneered in the 1980s with heart transplants, has emerged as a promising solution to alleviate the organ shortage crisis, particularly prevalent in kidney transplantation.
Examples:
Chimpanzee-to-Human Transplants: In the 1960s, there were attempts at chimpanzee-to-human kidney transplants, heart transplants, and liver transplants.
Pig-to-Human Heart Transplant: In 2022, a groundbreaking milestone was achieved with the first successful transplantation of a pig heart into a human with end-stage heart disease
Procedural Details
Xenotransplantation involves genetic modifications to animal organs, like 69 CRISPR-Cas9 edits to a pig kidney, removing pig genes and adding human genes for compatibility.
Why is the Pig a Preferred Source?
Anatomical Resemblance: Pigs are favoured for xenotransplantation due to their physiological similarities to humans, facilitating successful integration. Pig organs, like heart valves, have been used in human medicine for over 50 years.
Breeding Advantages: Extensive pig farming ensures a readily available and cost-effective supply of organs, with diverse breeds offering size-matching opportunities.
Challenges associated
The main challenge is preventing organ rejection. Innovative methods, such as embedding the pig’s thymus gland under the kidney’s outer layer, help manage immune responses.
There are also significant concerns regarding potential infections from both recognised and unrecognised infectious agents that could affect not only the recipient but also the wider population.
Retroviruses present in the animal organs pose a risk of cross-species infection, which could remain latent and cause diseases years after the transplantation.
PYQ:
[2017] With reference to agriculture in India, how can the technique of ‘genome sequencing’, often seen in the news, be used in the immediate future?
Genome sequencing can be used to identify genetic markers for disease resistance and drought tolerance in various crop plants.
This technique helps in reducing the time required to develop new varieties of crop plants.
It can be used to decipher the host-pathogen relationships in crops.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: ICAI, Tax Audit
Mains level: NA
Why in the News?
The Supreme Court upheld a rule issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) that limits Chartered Accountants to accepting no more than 60 tax audit assignments in a financial year.
The court found that the rule does NOT violate the fundamental right to practice a profession under Article 19(1) (g) of the Constitution (apart from also being violative of the right to equality under Article 14).
Tax Audit Regime: A Quick Backgrounder
The mandatory tax audit regime was initiated in 1984 with Section 44AB in the Income Tax Act, of 1961 which required certain businesses and professionals to get their accounts audited.
Tax Audit aims to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act, 1961, and detect and prevent tax evasion and fraud.
In 1988, the ICAI limited Chartered Accountants to a specified number of tax audit assignments to ensure quality and reduce the risk of misconduct.
This limit was part of the guidelines issued in 2008, which replaced previous notifications and were challenged in various High Courts.
About the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI):
Details
Establishment
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) is a statutory body established by an Act of Parliament, viz. The Chartered Accountants Act, 1949.
Regulatory Body
The second largest professional body of chartered accountants in the world after the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).
Only licensing authority for chartered accountants in India
Headquarters
New Delhi, India, with 5 regional offices and 163 branches across the country.
Functions
Regulates education, training, and examinations for Chartered Accountants. Formulates accounting and auditing standards.
Membership
Granted to individuals who complete prescribed education and training and pass final examinations.
Powers of ICAI
Involves theoretical education and practical training under a practising Chartered Accountant.
Conducted at Foundation, Intermediate, and Final levels, held twice a year in May and November.
Formulates Accounting Standards (AS), Auditing Standards (SA), and other guidance notes.
Investigates complaints of professional misconduct against members and takes disciplinary actions.
International Affiliations
Member of international accounting bodies including-
International Federation of Accountants (IFAC),
Confederation of Asian and Pacific Accountants (CAPA), and
South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA).
PYQ:
[2018] With reference to India’s decision to levy an equalization tax of 6% on online advertisement services offered by non- resident entities, which of the following statements is/are correct?
It is introduced as a part of the Income Tax Act.
Non-resident entities that offer advertisement services in India can claim a tax credit in their home country under the “Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements”.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: WEF, Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI)
Why in the News?
India has moved up to the 39th position in the World Economic Forum’s latest “Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2024, a significant climb from 54th in 2021.
The United States tops the index, followed by Spain, Japan, France, and Australia.
Pakistan is ranked 101st.
India’s Performance and Ranking
Price Competitiveness: India is ranked 18th in terms of price competitiveness.
Transport Infrastructure: It stands at 26th for air transport and 25th for ground and port infrastructure.
Resource Ranking: India is 6th in natural resources, 9th in cultural resources, and 9th in non-leisure resources.
TTDI Score Change: India’s overall TTDI score decreased by 2.1% compared to its 2019 level.
Decline in Sustainability Performance: India has seen a decline in sustainability performance relative to 2019 but still performs well due to the prevalence of sustainable long stays among inbound visitors.
About Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI)
The TTDI was compiled in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom (UK).
TTDI 2024 is the second edition, evolved from the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) series, a flagship index of WEF that has been in production since 2007.
TTDI 2024 covered 119 countries’ travel and tourism sectors across various factors and policies.
Founded in 1971 by Swiss-German economist Klaus Schwab in Geneva, Switzerland.
Purpose
To bring together public and private sector leaders to address global political, social, and economic issues.
Membership
Introduced in 1975, membership includes the world’s top 1,000 companies.
Scope Expansion
Initially focused on European firms catching up with US management practices, expanded to encompass broader economic and social issues.
Birth of the G20
The concept of the G20, focusing on global finance and comprising 20 countries, emerged from discussions at the WEF in 1998.
Key Reports Published
Global Competitiveness Report
Global Risks Report
Global Gender Gap Report
Global Human Capital Report
Global Information Technology Report
Future of Jobs Report
Global Enabling Trade Report
Trick: Reports beginning with the name ‘Global’.
World level recovery in travel and tourism:
Sector Recovery: International tourist arrivals and the sector’s contribution to global GDP are expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2024.
Regional Recovery: West Asia exceeded its 2019 tourist arrival levels by 20%, while Europe, Africa, and the Americas are recovering robustly, each reaching about 90% of their 2019 levels.
PYQ:
[2019] The Global Competitiveness Report is published by the:
(a) International Monetary Fund
(b) United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(c) World Economic Forum
(d) World Bank
Practice MCQ:
The Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI) is released by:
From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: Ashtamudi and other lakes in Kerala, Microplastics
Mains level: NA
Why in the News?
A recent study conducted by the “Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries”, University of Kerala, has revealed alarming levels of microplastic pollution in Ashtamudi Lake, a Ramsar wetland in Kollam district.
Back2Basics:Microplastics
Microplastics are small plastic particles that are less than 5 millimetres (0.2 inches) in size.
They are a type of plastic pollution that originates from the fragmentation of larger plastic debris, as well as from the direct release of small plastic particles in various products and activities.
Types of Microplastics:
About Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake is located in the Kollam district of Kerala.
The lake is also called the “gateway to the backwaters of Kerala”.
Historical Background: The importance of Ashtamudi Kayal dates back to the times of the Romans and Phoenicians in the 14th century.
It is a brackish water lake, meaning it contains a mix of freshwater and saltwater. It covers an area of approximately 61 square kilometres (23.5 square miles).
Kallada River is a major river discharging into the Ashtamudi Lake.
The name “Ashtamudi” translates to “eight coned” in Malayalam, referring to the lakes eight prominent arms or channels.
The lake is surrounded by lush vegetation, including mangrove forests, coconut groves, and palm trees.
Ashtamudi Lake is an integral part of the Kollam-Kottapuram Waterway, which connects the Kerala backwaters to the Arabian Sea.
Notable Islands: Chavara, Munroe
PYQ:
[2022] Consider the following pairs:
Wetland : Lake Location
1. Hokera Wetland : Punjab
2. Renuka Wetland : Himachal Pradesh
3. Rudrasagar Lake : Tripura
4. Sasthamkotta Lake : Tamil Nadu
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
[2019] Why is there a great concern about the ‘microbeads’ that are released into the environment?
(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.
