Current Affairs Reverse Engineering
Care (6-03-2024)
| News at a Glance
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| Social Issue: Women Legal Rights Compared to Men |
| Science and Technology: Artificial Intelligence’s Expanding Carbon Footprint |
| Economy: Green Jobs and Gender Disparity |
| National: India’s First Under-River Metro Tunnel in Kolkata |
| International: Over 1,000 Indians Crossed into U.K. Illegally in 2023 |
| Defence: BrahMos Missile in news |
Women Legal Rights Compared to Men
Source: Down to Earth
Context: : Women Have Two-Thirds of Legal Rights Compared to Men Globally: World Bank
UPSC Syllabus Relevance GS Paper-1 (Role of Women Social Empowerment Issues Related to Women)
Why in news
- A recent report by the World Bank Group reveals that women globally have only two-thirds or 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men, which is significantly lower than previous estimates of 77% for women’s rights.
Key highlights
- The report, titled “Women, Business and the Law 2024,” analyzed legal distinctions related to violence and childcare and found that women have fewer rights in these areas.
- The report emphasizes that eliminating discriminatory laws and practices hindering women from working or starting businesses could lead to a more than 20% increase in global GDP and double the rate of global growth in the next decade.
India’s Performance in Women’s Legal Rights
- India’s rank in terms of women’s legal rights has marginally improved to 113, with a score of 74.4%.
- However, its ranking has declined from 122 in 2021 to 125 in 2022 and further to 126 in the 2023 index.
- Indian women have 60% of the legal rights compared to men, slightly below the global average of 64.2%.
- Despite this, India outperforms its South Asian counterparts, where women have only 45.9% of the legal protections enjoyed by men.
- India receives a full score in constraints on freedom of movement and constraints related to marriage.
- However, it scores lower in laws impacting women’s pay.
- The World Bank recommends measures such as mandating equal pay for equivalent work, allowing women to work at night on par with men, and enabling women to engage in industrial jobs on an equal footing with men to enhance this aspect.
Global Gaps and Recommendations
- The report highlights that no country, including the most affluent economies, ensures equal opportunities for women.
- It also reveals a substantial implementation gap, with countries establishing less than 40% of the required systems for full implementation of equal-opportunity laws.
- While 98 economies have enacted laws mandating equal pay for women, fewer than one in five have adopted measures addressing the pay gap.
- The report emphasizes the need for a robust supporting framework, including strong enforcement mechanisms, gender-related pay disparity tracking systems, and accessible healthcare services for women surviving violence.
- It also recommends reforms in laws and public policies to empower women to work and engage in business.
Conclusion
- The World Bank’s report on women’s legal rights globally highlights the significant gap between men and women in terms of legal protections.
- It emphasizes the potential economic benefits of eliminating discriminatory laws and practices.
- While India’s performance has improved, there is still room for progress, particularly in areas such as women’s pay.
- The report underscores the need for comprehensive reforms and supportive frameworks to empower women and promote gender equality in business and the law.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q1. Consider the following statements with reference to World bank group report:
1. According to the report released by the World Bank Group, globally women have only two-thirds of the legal rights enjoyed by men. 2. The report is titled Women, Business and Law 2024. 3. The report estimates improvements in women’s rights could increase global GDP by more than 20% Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 3 only D. 1, 2 and 3
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Q. Two of the schemes launched by the Government of India for Women’s development are Swadhar and Swayam Siddha. As regards the difference between them, consider the following statements: (UPSC Prelims 2010)
1. Swayam Siddha is meant for those in difficult circumstances such as women survivors of natural disasters or terrorism, women prisoners released from jails, mentally challenged women etc., whereas Swadhar is meant for holistic empowerment of women through Self Help Groups. 2. Swayam Siddha is implemented through Local Self Government bodies or reputed Voluntary Organizations whereas Swadhar is implemented through the ICDS units set up in the states. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2 Ans: D
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| Ans 1 D
Explanation · The recent report by the World Bank Group reveals that women globally have only two-thirds or 64% of the legal rights enjoyed by men. · This finding is significantly lower than previous estimates, which projected women to have 77% of the rights. · The report, titled “Women, Business and the Law 2024,” analyzed legal distinctions related to violence and childcare and found that women have fewer rights in these areas. · The report emphasizes that eliminating discriminatory laws and practices hindering women from working or starting businesses could lead to a more than 20% increase in global GDP and double the rate of global growth in the next decade.
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Artificial Intelligence’s Expanding Carbon Footprint
Source: The Hindu
Context: Artificial Intelligence’s Expanding Carbon Footprint: Exploring Solutions
UPSC Syllabus relevance: GS 3 (Robotics Artificial Intelligence Scientific Innovations & Discoveries IT & Computers)
Why in news
- While artificial intelligence (AI) holds promising potential in assisting with the climate crisis, its energy demands pose a significant challenge, exacerbating rather than alleviating the climate problem.
The Carbon Conundrum
- The emissions stemming from the infrastructure supporting AI, particularly data centers, contribute to its carbon footprint, underscoring the dual role of AI as both a part of the problem and a potential solution.
Technological Solutions
- Different approaches to building AI systems offer hope in reducing their carbon footprint, with spiking neural networks (SNNs) and lifelong learning (L2) emerging as promising avenues.
Spiking Neural Networks
- SNNs represent an energy-efficient alternative to traditional artificial neural networks (ANNs), offering up to 280-times greater energy efficiency.
- Inspired by the brain’s communication via electrical signals, SNNs consume energy only when spikes occur, minimizing overall energy requirements.
Lifelong Learning
- L2 strategies aim to mitigate the energy demands of ANNs over their lifetime by enabling sequential training on multiple tasks without forgetting previous knowledge.
- This approach minimizes the need for retraining from scratch, reducing AI-related emissions.
Future Directions
- Continued advancements in AI, including the development of smaller models with equivalent predictive capabilities and the integration of quantum computing, hold promise in further mitigating AI’s carbon footprint.
- Quantum computing offers superior computing capabilities, facilitating energy-efficient solutions for AI on a larger scale.
Conclusion
- As the field of AI continues to evolve rapidly, addressing its growing carbon footprint is imperative to ensure that technological advancements contribute positively to the fight against climate change.
- By embracing innovative approaches and sustainable practices, AI can transition from being part of the problem to becoming a significant asset in tackling the climate crisis.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q2. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Spiking Neural Networks represent an energy-efficient alternative to traditional artificial neural networks (ANNs) 2. AI is both a contributor to and potential solution for climate change. Code: A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
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Q. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (UPSC Prelims 2020)
1. Bring down electricity consumption in industrial units 2. Create meaningful short stories and songs 3. Disease diagnosis 4. Text-to-Speech Conversion 5. Wireless transmission of electrical energy Select the correct answer using the code given below: A. 1, 2, 3 and 5 only B. 1, 3 and 4 only C. 2, 4 and 5 only D. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
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| Answer 2– C
Explanation – · Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) represent an energy-efficient alternative to traditional artificial neural networks (ANNs), offering up to 280-times greater energy efficiency. So, statement 1 is correct. · Inspired by the brain’s communication via electrical signals, SNNs consume energy only when spikes occur, minimizing overall energy requirements. So, statement 1 is correct. · The emissions stemming from the infrastructure supporting AI, particularly data centers, contribute to its carbon footprint, underscoring the dual role of AI as both a part of the problem and a potential solution. So, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, correct answer is option C.
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Green Jobs and Gender Disparity
Source: The Hindu
Context: India’s aspiration for low-carbon development includes the prospect of creating 35 million green jobs by 2047.
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS Paper – 2 Issues Related to Women Inclusive Growth
Why in News
- International Labour Organization’s criteria for green jobs, emphasizing decent work contributing to environmental preservation, underscores a troubling gender gap in sectors like manufacturing, construction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and automobiles.
Gender Gap in Green Job Transition
- Despite the significant growth in renewable energy capacity and the expansion of green job opportunities, men are outpacing women in transitioning to green jobs.
- For instance, women only accounted for 11% of workers in the solar rooftop sector, reflecting a wider trend of gender underrepresentation in key sectors.
- This disparity is further evident in the training for green skills, with 85% of training imparted to men, while over 90% of women perceived social norms as limiting their participation in green job training.
Empowering Women for a Sustainable Future
- Recognizing the pivotal role of women in realizing the co-benefits of a low-carbon economy, it is imperative to address the gender biases and improve women’s participation in green jobs.
- Empowering women in green jobs not only addresses gender biases in the labor market but also contributes to enhancing women’s agency and economic empowerment in the long run.
Addressing Data Gaps and Promoting Inclusivity
- The lack of comprehensive data on women’s participation in green jobs in India underscores the need for mapping emerging areas for green growth and collecting sex-disaggregated data.
- Building evidence on the impact of low-carbon transitions on women workers and entrepreneurs, and conducting gender analysis and collecting gender statistics, is essential to encourage women’s involvement in the green transition.
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs and Closing the Gap
- To bridge the gender gap in key sectors like engineering, manufacturing, and construction, early hands-on learning, mentorship, scholarships, financial assistance, and awareness generation are crucial.
- Gender-focused financial policies, collateral-free lending, and supportive networks for women entrepreneurs are vital to unlock their potential in the green transition market.
- Additionally, promoting women to leadership positions will ensure gender-specific needs are incorporated into low-carbon development strategies, promoting the integration of women in green jobs.
Conclusion
- A gender-just transition to a low-carbon economy demands a multi-pronged strategy that focuses on employment, social protection, reducing the burden of care work, and enabling skill development.
- It is imperative for partnerships across government, private sector, and other stakeholders to leverage innovation, technology, and finance for women entrepreneurs and workers, ensuring an inclusive and sustainable future.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q3. Consider the following statements with reference to Green Jobs in India:
1. India’s ambition for low-carbon development aims to create 35 million green jobs by 2047. 2. In the training for green skills, 85% of the training is imparted to men, while over 90% of women perceive social norms as limiting their participation in green job training. Which of the above statement is/are incorrect? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
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Q. Which of the following gives ‘Global Gender Gap Index’ ranking to the countries of the world? (UPSC Prelims 2017)
A. World Economic Forum B. UN Human Rights Council C. UN Women D. World Health Organization Ans: A
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| Answer 3 D
Explanation · India’s ambition for low-carbon development aims to create 35 million green jobs by 2047, yet gender disparity persists in sectors like manufacturing, construction, renewable energy, energy efficiency, and automobiles, highlighting the need for empowering women in green job transition. So, the statement 1 is correct. · This disparity is further evident in the training for green skills, with 85% of training imparted to men, while over 90% of women perceived social norms as limiting their participation in green job training. So, the statement 2 is correct. · Therefore option D is correct answer.
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India’s First Under-River Metro Tunnel in Kolkata
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Syllabus relevance: GS 2 (International ties and its global Impact)
Context: The Urban Metro projects aim to enhance urban mobility and make travel smoother and more efficient for the public.
Why in news
- Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate India’s first under-river metro tunnel in Kolkata, marking a significant stride in the city’s urban transportation.
Key Highlights
- The Kolkata Metro extension includes the country’s first tunnel under a major river, with the Howrah Metro Station being the deepest in the country at 33 meters below the surface.
- Along with the underwater metro, PM Modi will also inaugurate the Kavi Subhash-Hemant Mukhopadhyay and Taratala-Majerhat sections of the Kolkata Metro, which aims to reduce road traffic and provide seamless connectivity.
- These projects aim to enhance urban mobility and make travel smoother and more efficient for the public.
Why need urban transportation reforms
- As per Census 2011, more than 31% of the population is living in urban areas and this is expected to grow to over 40%, that is nearly 60 crore in 2031 and 50% leading to over 80 crore by 2051.
- At present 65% of countries GDP comes from urban areas and it is likely to grow over 75% by 2030.
- As a result of the Rapid urbanization the transport in urban areas has been largely hegemonized by private motor vehicles and supporting ancillary Infrastructures like flyovers, networks etc.
- The Rapid growth of personal vehicle has adversely impacted the share of public transport share of buses has reduced to 1% only.
- Quite evident results of these are increased congestion, pollution, road accident, energy consumption and travel time in our cities which has dropped by about 3 kilometre per hour in seven major cities between 2017 and 2018.
National Urban Transport Policy 2006
- In order to address the challenges of urban mobility and also to provide clear direction and a Framework for future action, Government of India formulated the national Urban transport policy (NUTP) in 2006.
- The vision of this policy is to recognise that people occupy Centre stage in our cities and all plans should be people-centric.
- The focus of the policy is to address the movement of people and goods and not the vehicles so as to make our cities liveable and enable them to become the engines of the economic growth.
- The objective of this policy is to ensure safe, affordable, quick, comfortable, reliable and sustainable access for the growing number of city residents to jobs, education, health, and such other needs within cities.
Existing metro rail systems in India
- The first metro rail started its commercial services in Kolkata in 1984.
- It continued to be the only metro system in the country till Delhi Metro commenced operations in 2002.
- The success of Delhi Metro inspired other big cities to follow suit and in 2011 Bangalore metro started operations.
- This was followed by operation of mass transit systems in Mumbai, Gurugram, Chennai etc.
- Since 2014 the metro has spread across the country very rapidly and metro rail have been made operational in 18 cities.
- More than 800 kilometre of metro rail and 82 kilometre of regional Rapid Rail transit systems (RRTS) are under various stages of construction at present.
How metro rails can be made cost effective
- Connectivity to the metro rail stations need to be planned properly.
- The low occupancy should go up and cost per passenger trip should go down.
- For cost of a metro rail to slowly become affordable, it should keep growing.
- Funding should be drawn from foreign and indigenous agency.
- Metro rails need not remain a high tech, but can be made cost effective and reliable.
- The success of metro rail lies on involvement of multi modes of transport.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q 4. Consider the following statements with regards to metro services:
1. India’s first metro rail started its commercial services in Delhi in 2002. 2. As per Census 2011, more than 50% of the population of India is living in urban areas.
Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
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Q. India’s first pure green hydrogen plant commissioned in : (UPSC prelims 2022)
A. Jorhat B. Guwahati C. Jamshedpur D. Ranchi Answer: A
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Answer 4: D Explanation: · The first metro rail started its commercial services in Kolkata in 1984. · It continued to be the only metro system in the country till Delhi Metro commenced operations in 2002. · The success of Delhi Metro inspired other big cities to follow suit and in 2011 Bangalore metro started operations. So, statement 1 is incorrect. · As per Census 2011, more than 31% of the population is living in urban areas and this is expected to grow to over 40%, that is nearly 60 crore in 2031. At present 65% of countries GDP comes from urban areas and it is likely to grow over 75% by 2030. · So, statement 2 is incorrect. Therefore, option D is correct answer.
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Over 1,000 Indians Crossed into U.K. Illegally in 2023
Source: The Hindu
UPSC Syllabus relevance: GS 2 (International border migration )
Context: Surge in illegal migration from India to the U.K. reflects a growing trend in recent years, with the number more than doubling from the previous year.
Why in news
- In 2023, more than 1,000 Indians embarked on perilous journeys across the English Channel from Europe, risking their lives to reach the U.K. in inflatable small boats.
Demographic Shifts
- The share of illegal Indian migrants aged 18-29 has notably increased, comprising close to 60% of the total number of illegal Indian migrants in 2023.
- Concurrently, the number of Indians applying for asylum in the U.K. has surged, surpassing the 5,000-mark for the first time in 2023.
Global Context
- This surge in illegal migration is not unique to the U.K. Similar trends have been observed in the United States, with close to 1 lakh Indians crossing into the U.S. illegally in 2023.
Political Implications
- The influx of asylum-seekers has become a political issue in the U.K., especially as the country approaches elections.
- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to address the issue, emphasizing the need to “stop the boats.”
- Proposed measures include sending asylum-seekers to Rwanda, with the outcome of this initiative likely to impact the upcoming elections.
UK Illegal Migration Bill
- The Bill, when passed into law by the U.K. Parliament, will: require that the Home Secretary detain and remove those arriving in the U.K. illegally, either to Rwanda or another “safe” third country; would deny migrants the right to bail or judicial review for the first 28 days of their immigration detention; block such migrants from returning to the U.K. or seeking British citizenship going forward.
- The Bill would also seek to set a cap on the number of refugees who will be permitted to settle in the U.K. through “safe and legal routes”.
- This, at the moment, only applies to people from Afghanistan and Ukraine, or British National status holders in Hong Kong.
- The English Channel, also known as La Manche, is a 350-mile-long arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France.
- The channel is a funnel-shaped, shallow shelf sea that links to the North Sea via the Strait of Dover.
- It’s the world’s busiest shipping lane, with over 500 vessels passing through it daily.
- The English Channel formed around 10,000 years ago when the last Ice Age melted.
- The deepest point in the channel is Hurd’s Deep, an underwater valley northwest of the Channel Islands, with a maximum depth of about 180 meters.
Some notable swimmers who have crossed the English Channel include:
- Matthew Webb: First crossing in 1875
- Antonio Abertondo: First two-way crossing in 1961
- Jon Erikson: First three-way crossing in 1981
- Sarah Thomas: First four-way crossing in 2019
- Trent Grimsey: Fastest crossing in 6:55
What is the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
- It was adopted on 18th December 1990 by General Assembly resolution 45/158.
- It desired to establish norms which may contribute to the harmonization of the attitudes of States through the acceptance of basic principles concerning the treatment of migrant workers and members of their families.
- It covers 93 Articles which provides protection to recognized migrants.
- Article 9 states that the right to life of migrant workers and members of their families shall be protected by law.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q5. What demographic trend has been observed among illegal Indian migrants attempting to reach the U.K. in 2023?
1. Increase in migrants aged 30 and above 2. Decrease in migrants aged 18-29 3. Stable distribution across age groups 4. Significant increase in migrants aged 18-29
Which of the above statements is/are incorrect? A. 1 and 2 only B. 2 and 3 only C. 1, 2 and 3 only D. 1, 3 and 4 only
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Q. Consider the following pairs: (UPSC Prelims 2022)
Region often mentioned in the news: Country 1. Anatolia Turkey 2. Amhara Ethiopia 3. Cabo Delgado Spain 4. Catalonia Italy How many pairs given above are correctly matched? A. Only one pair B. Only two pairs C. Only three pairs D. All four pairs Answer: B
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| Answer 5– D
Explanation · The share of illegal Indian migrants aged 18-29 has notably increased, comprising close to 60% of the total number of illegal Indian migrants in 2023. · Concurrently, the number of Indians applying for asylum in the U.K. has surged, surpassing the 5,000-mark for the first time in 2023. · Therefore, correct answer is option D. |
BrahMos Missile in News
Source: The Hindu
Context: : Indian Navy’s New BrahMos Deal and Missile Indigenisation
UPSC Syllabus Relevance GS 3 (Defence and Security)
Why in news
- The Indian Navy’s defense arsenal is bolstered by the ₹19,000-crore acquisition of 200 BrahMos Extended Range (ER) supersonic cruise missiles for warships, approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on February 22.
Details of the New BrahMos Missiles
- The latest acquisition cleared by the Cabinet is of the BrahMos Extended Range supersonic cruise missile (BRAHMOS-ER).
- While the base version of this missile (BRAHMOS) had a range of 290 km, which was later extended to 400 km, the new version is reportedly capable of striking targets at a distance 800-900 km away from the ship it is mounted on.
- The Navy has not, however, specified a precise strike capability.
- The BRAHMOS-ER missile is a two-stage missile with a solid propellant booster as its first stage and a liquid-fuel-fired ramjet engine as its second stage, which powers the missile beyond supersonic speed.
- As per the last test-firing of the missile by the Indian Navy, it clocked a speed of 2.8 Mach (almost three times the speed of sound).
- Operating on the ‘fire and forget’ principle — the missile can hit the target without external intervention after its launch — the BRAHMOS-ER is designed for long flight with a variety of trajectories and is said to hit its target with pinpoint accuracy and power with large kinetic energy on impact.
- Carrying a conventional warhead of 200-300 kgs, the BRAHMOS-ER, like its predecessor, has a cruising altitude of up to 15 km and can also go as low as 10 meters.
- As it has a low radar signature and travels at supersonic speeds, it reportedly cannot be intercepted by any known weapons system till date.
BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile Testing
- Founded in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace is a joint venture between India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Russia’s military industrial consortium, NPO Machinostroyenia (NPOM).
- With an initial capital of $250 million, India holds a 50.5% stake in the venture, while Russia holds a 49.5% share.
- The missile itself is derived from the Russian P-800 Oniks or Yakhont missile, which was first tested in the 1990s.
- The first successful test of the BRAHMOS supersonic cruise missile, took place on May 22, 2013, when it was test-fired from the Navy’s guided missile frigate INS Tarkash off the Goa coast.
- The new extended-range version, designed after 2016, was first tested in 2017 by the Indian Navy.
- It was fired from stealth frigate INS Teg in the Bay of Bengal on March 11, 2017.
- The latest test of the missile by the Indian Navy was on January 24, 2024.
- The Navy successfully test-fired a ship-launched version of the missile with an ‘enhanced range.’
BrahMos Indigenisation Plan
- As the Centre pushes for more indigenisation of its defence sector, the Indian Navy already has a 15-year plan in place to boost Indian manufacturing of weapons, including the BrahMos missile.
- In 1998, when the joint venture between DRDO and NPOM began, the indigenous capacity of the BrahMos project was only 13%.
- As of 2023, 75% indigenous capacity has been achieved, including manufacturing parts of the missile, spares, and checkout equipment used for testing it.
- More than 200 Indian industries were involved in the indigenisation and that the missile project itself had created 25,000 jobs.
- In 2019, DRDO had test-fired the land version of the base missile BRAHMOS with an Indian fuel propulsion system, power supply, and other features.
- While DRDO already uses an indigenous seeker and booster in BRAHMOS-ER, the next-generation missile BRAHMOS-NG may have an indigenous ramjet engine or propulsion system.
- However, Mr. Rane has ruled out 100% indigenisation of the BrahMos missile as it is a joint venture between India and Russia, thus necessitating that certain components be designed by Russia.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q6. Consider the following statements with reference to BrahMos Missile :
1. The BrahMos is a short-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched only in Air to Air. 2. It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation and India’s ISRO who have together formed BrahMos Aerospace. Which of the above statements is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2
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Q. Consider the following statements about the BrahMos Missile: ( UPSC Prelims 2018)
1. It has been developed through a joint collaboration between India and Russia. 2. It is one of the fastest supersonic cruise missiles in the world with maximum speed of Mach 4. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. 1 only B. 2 only C. Both 1 and 2 D. Neither 1 nor 2 Answer: C |
| Ans 6 D
Explanation
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