Current Affairs Reverse Engineering – CARE (19-06-2024)
| News at a Glance |
| International Relations: China urges Biden not to sign Resolve Tibet Bill |
| Environment: Strategic imperative and environment concern in Great Nicobar project |
| Economy: Industry seeks removal of ‘Angel Tax’; to aid capital formation |
| Science and Technology: India on a Mission to curb Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047 |
| AI could help spread false and misleading information on Holocaust, UNESCO report warns |
China urges US Prez not to sign Resolve Tibet Bill
Source: Indian-Express
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS 2 – International Relations
Context: US-China relations are set to become more complicated with Tibet emerging as new point of contention.
Why in News
- China urged US President Joe Biden not to sign the Tibet policy bill, warning of “resolute measures”, as it expressed “strong concern” over the visit of a high-level US Congress delegation to Dharamshala to meet the Dalai Lama.
Key Highlights
- A bipartisan US congressional delegation, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaulis, is visiting India to strengthen bilateral ties and to meet the 88-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader.
- Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is part of the delegation that reached Dharamsala, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
- Dharamsala is the seat of power for Tibet’s government in exile since the spiritual leader stepped into India six decades ago.
- The delegation is on a two-day visit to Dharamsala and will meet the Dalai Lama.
- Pelosi had visited Taiwan in August 2022 and Beijing had reacted strongly against the US delegation’s visit there as well.
- High-level officials from the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), including Dolma Tsering, the Exile Tibetan Minister for the Department of Information and International Relations, greeted the Congressional delegation at the airport.
- Dharamsala is the seat of power for Tibet’s government in exile since the spiritual leader stepped into India six decades ago.
- In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, urged Biden not to sign the bipartisan Tibet Policy Bill adopted by both the US Senate and the House of Representatives.
US on Tibet Bill
- The Resolve Tibet Act is a bipartisan bill to enhance US support for Tibet and promote dialogue between the People’s Republic of China and the Dalai Lama toward a peaceful resolution of the long-standing dispute between Tibet and China.
- The Act enhances US support for Tibet –
- empowering State Department officials to actively and directly counter disinformation about Tibet from the Chinese government,
- reject false claims that Tibet has been part of China since “ancient times”, push for negotiations without preconditions between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives or the democratically elected leaders of the Tibetan community,
- affirm the State Department’s responsibility to coordinate with other governments in multilateral efforts toward the goal of a negotiated agreement on Tibet.
- China is opposed to the Act and has asked Biden not to sign it.
Tibet-China Bill and US-china relations
- The bill was introduced in the Senate by Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley.
- It aims to allocate funds to counter what it describes as “disinformation” from Beijing regarding Tibet’s history, people, and institutions.
- “The people of Tibet deserve to be in charge of their own future, and, today, Congress has voted to stand with Tibetans in their struggle for freedom and self-determination.
- It has been reported that the US policy might redefine “Tibet” to encompass not just the Tibet Autonomous Region as specified by the Chinese government, but also the Tibetan regions within the provinces of Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Yunnan.
- The bill also promotes resuming negotiations with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader.
- The two sides have not held a formal dialogue since 2010.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to Resolve Tibet Act:
Which of the statements provided above is/are correct?
|
Q. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue which Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news? (2022)
(a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea. (b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea (c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities. (d) Through International Courts of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them. Answer: (b) |
| Answer 1– A
Explanation:
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Strategic imperative and environment concern in Great Nicobar project
Source: Indian Express
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/great-nicobar-project-concern-9400418/
UPSC Relevance: GS3- Environment
Context: Strategic imperative and environment concern in Great Nicobar project
Why in News
The Congress party has described the proposed Rs 72,000-crore infra upgrade at the Great Nicobar Island as a “grave threat” to the island’s indigenous inhabitants and fragile ecosystem.
It has demanded “immediate suspension of all clearances” and a “thorough, impartial review of the proposed project, including by the Parliamentary committees concerned”.
Significance of Great Nicobar
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a cluster of 836 islands, split into two groups — the Andaman Islands to the north and the Nicobar Islands to the south — by the 150-km wide Ten Degree Channel.
- Great Nicobar is the southernmost and largest of the Nicobar Islands, a sparsely inhabited 910-sq-km patch of mainly tropical rainforest in southeastern Bay of Bengal.
- Indira Point on the island, India’s southernmost point, is only 90 nautical miles (less than 170 km) from Sabang at the northern tip of Sumatra, the largest island of the Indonesian archipelago.
- Great Nicobar has two national parks, a biosphere reserve, small populations of the Shompen and Nicobarese tribal peoples, and a few thousand non-tribal settlers.
Great Nicobar project
- The mega infrastructure project is proposed to include an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT).
- It is a greenfield international airport with a peak hour capacity to handle 4,000 passengers, a township, and a gas and solar based power plant spread across 16,610 hectares.
- The project is being implemented by the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Integrated Development Corporation (ANIIDCO).
- The project for the “holistic development” of Great Nicobar Island was implemented after a report by NITI Aayog.
- A pre-feasibility report flagged the opportunity to leverage the strategic location of the island, which is roughly equidistant from Colombo in Sri Lanka to the southwest and Port Klang (Malaysia) and Singapore to the southeast.
- It is close to the Malacca Strait, the main waterway that connects the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, and the ICTT is expected to “allow Great Nicobar to participate in the regional and global maritime economy by becoming a major player in cargo transshipment’’. A proposed “greenfield city” will tap into both the maritime and tourism potential of the island.
- The site for the proposed ICTT and power plant is Galathea Bay on the southeastern corner of Great Nicobar Island, where there is no human habitation.
- The project was granted in-principle forest clearance and environmental clearance in October 2022.
- A detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared, and the union government is likely to invite bids for the initial phase of construction of the terminal in the coming months.
Strategic importance
- The Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean region are of vital strategic and security interest to India as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy seeks to expand its footprint across the region.
- India is wary of a build-up of Chinese maritime forces at the Indo-Pacific choke points of especially Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok.
- China’s attempts to expand its footprint in the region includes building a military facility at Coco Islands (Myanmar) lying just 55 km to the north of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- A major military infrastructure upgrade was underway at the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, including revamping airfields and jetties and building additional logistics and storage facilities, a base for military personnel, and a robust surveillance infrastructure.
- The upgrade is aimed at facilitating the deployment of additional military forces, larger and more warships, aircraft, missile batteries, and troops.
- Close surveillance of the entire area around the archipelago, and the building up of a strong military deterrence at Great Nicobar is of vital importance to India’s national security.
Environmental Concerns
- The proposed infra upgrade has been opposed on grounds of the threat it poses to the ecology of the islands.
- The opposition has focused on the potentially devastating impact on the Shompen, a particularly vulnerable tribal group (PVTG) of hunter-gatherers with an estimated population of a few hundred individuals who live in a tribal reserve on the island.
- It has been alleged that the project violates the rights of the tribal population, and will impact the island’s ecology with the felling of nearly a million trees.
- It is feared that the port project will destroy coral reefs with spinoff effects on the local marine ecosystem, and pose a threat to the terrestrial Nicobar Megapode bird and leatherback turtles who nest in the Galathea Bay area.
- The Congress statement, issued by senior leader and former Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, has also pointed out that the proposed port is in a seismically volatile zone that saw permanent subsidence of about 15 ft during the 2004 tsunami.
- The statement has accused the local administration of not consulting the Tribal Council of Great and Little Nicobar Islands adequately as per legal requirements.
- In November 2022, the tribal council revoked a no-objection certificate it had issued for diversion of about 160 sq km of forest land, saying they had not been given full information.
- In April 2023, the Kolkata Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) declined to interfere with the environmental and forest clearance granted to the project.
- The Tribunal, however, ordered that a high-power committee should be constituted to look into the clearances.
- There is no clarity yet on whether the committee, consisting mainly of government representatives, has submitted its report.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q2. Consider the following statements:
I: The project includes an International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) aimed at enhancing maritime trade in the Bay of Bengal and beyond. II: Great Nicobar Island is strategically located near key Indo-Pacific choke points and is part of India’s efforts to strengthen military presence in the region. III: The proposed infrastructure project has received final forest clearance and environmental clearance from the Indian government. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? A. I and II only B. II and III only C. I and III only D. I, II, and III |
Q. Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’? (2014)
(a) Andaman and Nicobar (b) Nicobar and Sumatra (c) Maldives and Lakshadweep (d) Sumatra and Java Ans: (a) |
| Answer 2– A
Explanation:
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Industry seeks removal of ‘Angel Tax’ to aid capital formation
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Relevance: GS-3 Economy
Context: Removal of Angel Tax
Why in News
- Indian Inc has sought the removal of Angel Tax that has been a subject of heated debate between the industry and the government ever since the scope of the controversial tax was expanded in the Finance Bill 2023.
Key Highlights
- The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in its Union Budget recommendation suggested the removal of Section 56(2)(viib) of the Income-tax Act colloquially known as the ‘Angel Tax’ stating that the step “would greatly aid capital formation in the country”.
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT)-recognised startups were excluded from the Angel Tax levy.
What is Angel Tax?
- Angel tax – which is income tax at the rate of 30.6 per cent – is levied when an unlisted company issue shares to an investor at a price higher than its fair market value.
- Angel Tax was first introduced in 2012 to deter the generation and use of unaccounted money through the subscription of shares of a closely held company at a value that is higher than the fair market value of the firm’s shares.
- Earlier, it was imposed only on investments made by a resident investor.
- However, the Finance Act 2023 proposed to extend Angel Tax even to non-resident investors from April 1, 2024.
Changes in Angel Tax for Budget 2023
- Budget 2023 proposes that shares being issued to non-resident investors over and above FMV will be covered by the aforesaid provision of taxability.
- Moreover, benefit of exemption from the ‘Angel Tax’ provided to domestic investors of eligible start-ups has not been extended to non-resident investors as yet.
Impact on startups
The imposition of angel tax has a significant impact on startups, particularly those in the early stages of development with limited revenues.
- Firstly, it creates cash flow constraints as startups depend on funds to fuel their growth and operations. The tax reduces the capital raised, hindering their expansion plans.
- Secondly, determining the fair market value of a startup, especially in its early stage, is challenging due to limited financial data, leading to disputes with tax authorities, resulting in prolonged assessments and unnecessary burdens.
- Thirdly, angel tax generates uncertainty and apprehension among angel investors and HNIs, discouraging them from investing in startups, thus affecting the availability of funds for budding entrepreneurs.
- Fourthly, Indian startups face a competitive disadvantage compared to their global counterparts as foreign startups do not have a similar tax burden, affecting India’s startup ecosystem.
- Finally, the high tax liabilities divert the focus of startup founders from innovation and business growth to tax compliance, paperwork, and legal complexities, potentially stifling innovation and hindering the overall development of the startup ecosystem.
Angel tax has been a contentious issue for Indian startups, impacting their growth, investment opportunities, and overall confidence in the ecosystem. However, by striking a balance between taxation and support, India can unleash the full potential of its entrepreneurial community and establish itself as a global hub for innovation and startup success.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q3. Consider the following statements
I. Angel tax is levied at the rate of 30.6% on unlisted companies when they issue shares to investors at a price higher than the fair market value. II. Angel Tax was first introduced in 2012 to discourage the use of unaccounted money through overpriced share subscriptions in closely held companies. III. Previously, Angel Tax was applicable only to investments made by resident investors. IV. As per the Finance Act 2023, Angel Tax will also apply to investments made by non-resident investors from April 1, 2024. How many of the statements given above are correct? a) I and II b) II and IV c) I, II, and IV d) I, III, and IV |
Q. Which of the following is issued by registered foreign portfolio investors to overseas investors who want to be part of the Indian stock market without registering themselves directly? (2019)
(a) Certificate of Deposit (b) Commercial Paper (c) Promissory Note (d) Participatory Note Ans: (d) |
| Answer 3 C
Explanation
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India on a Mission to curb Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047
Source: New Indian Express
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS3 Science and Technology
Context: India on a Mission to curb Sickle Cell Anaemia
Why in News
- India aims to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047 and has embarked on a mission to screen 70 million people under the age of 40 over the next three years.
About Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
- Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a serious genetic disorder with significant implications on morbidity and mortality across the world.
- Globally, an estimated 7% of the population carries an abnormal haemoglobin gene, leading to about 3,00,000-5,00,000 annual births with major haemoglobin disorders.
- Sickle cell is the most prevalent disorder, accounting for 70% of births with haemoglobinopathies worldwide.
India and Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
- India is among the worst- affected countries in the world with SCD widespread across states.
- SCD contributes significantly to high infant mortality, maternal mortality rate and anaemia apart from inflicting huge socio- economic burden.
- The prevalence of SCD (both carrier and homozygous trait) varies widely across the population from 1 to 44%.
- This disease mainly affects the population of central India and many states like
- Odisha (16.69%),
- Chhattisgarh (12.1%),
- Gujarat (14.7%),
- Rajasthan (18.25%),
- Maharashtra (14%)
- Madhya Pradesh (17.5%)
- Mass screening of the population of 14 districts under Odisha Sickle Cell & Thalassemia Control Programme has detected Sickle Cell gene among 12.5% of the population out of which 1% belongs to disease category (homozygous trait) and rest Sickle Cell carrier type.
- The Sickle Cell Trait has been historically witnessed predominantly among tribal populations.
- However, with opening up of the society and exposure of tribals to the outer world, migration and inter-community communion has led to spread of SCD in non-tribal groups across castes and economic class.
Understanding Sickle Cell Disease
- SCD involves a group of inherited red blood cell disorders caused by defective haemoglobin genes.
- The sickle-shaped cells with reduced ability to carry oxygen, lead to chronic oxygen deprivation and potential tissue and organ damage.
- The cells cause blockages in blood flow, resulting in severe pain, a condition known as pain crisis.
- Individuals with defective haemoglobin genes from both parents develop Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA), a severe form of the disease.
- Those who inherit the gene from one parent are called carriers, a condition termed Sickle Cell Trait (SCT), which typically does not present severe symptoms.
Understanding Sickle Cell Disease
- The symptoms of SCA include anaemia, jaundice, severe pain episodes, breathlessness, fatigue, recurrent infections, complications during pregnancy, organ damage, etc.
- Managing SCA involves regular medical consultations, staying hydrated, adhering to prescribed medications, maintaining a balanced diet, avoiding extreme weather conditions and high altitudes, and providing additional care for children, including special vaccinations and routine follow-ups.
Early Diagnosis and Awareness
- In SCD it assumes more significance as early detection impacts future generations.
- Sickle cell carriers in a substantial chunk of cases do not have any symptoms throughout their lives, and in the process transmit it to their progeny who undergo the complications.
- Knowing one’s status, thus, will not only help in getting treated but also prevent inter-generational transmission.
- Increasing awareness about SCD is crucial for the early diagnosis and effective management of this debilitating condition.
- By educating communities and healthcare professionals about the symptoms and challenges associated with SCD, we can promote timely interventions.
- Improving access to quality healthcare services and development of new therapies and medicines is vital in the fight against SCD.
- Policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, and the general public must collaborate to address the disparities in care and support innovative treatment options.
Eradicating Social Stigma First
- Along with the physical manifestations, social stigma is also one of the most excruciating aspects of SCD where the exclusion faced by a patient leads to psychological distress and affects mental well-being.
- Various misconceptions and misunderstandings about the disease keep the patient out of the mainstream and deprive them of social, educational, employment and even familial participation.
- The stigma leads the patients to hide their condition.
- Addressing this issue requires comprehensive public education to dispel myths and promote a more inclusive and supportive environment for people living with SCD.
The Mission to Eliminate Sickle Cell Anaemia by 2047
- In an ambitious move, the Union government has announced a mission to eradicate SCA by 2047.
- The mission aims to create awareness, conduct universal screening for 7 crore people aged 0-40 years in affected tribal areas.
- The initiative focuses on early detection, comprehensive management, and prevention of the disease.
- A significant milestone has been achieved with over 1 crore individuals screened under the National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission.
- However, much more is needed to address the significant health challenges posed by SCD, particularly among vulnerable tribal populations, and improve the overall health scenario in India.
World Sickle Cell Day 2024: Date and Theme
- Every year on June 19, World Sickle Cell Day is observed, and this year it falls on Wednesday.
- The theme for this year’s observance is “Hope Through Progress: Advancing Sickle Cell Care Globally.”
- This theme underscores the importance of unity, collective voices, and heightened awareness to reduce stigma and bring about meaningful change for the millions affected by sickle cell disease.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q4. Consider the following statements with respect to Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCD) :
How many of the statements given above are correct?
|
Q. Consider the following statements in the context interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy: (2023)
How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Ans: (c) |
| Answer 4 B
Explanation
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AI could help spread false and misleading information on Holocaust, UNESCO report warns
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS 3- Science and Technology
Context: Artificial Intelligence and its Concerns
Why in news
- A United Nations agency is warning that developments in artificial intelligence could spawn a new surge in Holocaust denial.
Key Highlights
- A report published by UNESCO concludes that AI could result in false and misleading claims about the Holocaust spreading online.
- This can be due to flaws in the programs or because hate groups and Holocaust deniers will intentionally use AI programs to generate content that falsely calls into question the murder of Jews and other groups by the Nazis.
- One of the biggest concerns is that AI could be used to create so-called deepfakes of the Holocaust — realistic images or videos that could be used to suggest the Holocaust didn’t happen or was exaggerated.
- That could lead to greater antisemitism and a lack of understanding of a key moment in 20th-century history.
Significant Findings
- The report noted that some AI-assisted programs allow users to interact with simulated historical figures, including prominent Nazis like Adolf Hitler.
- Widespread use of AI for assistance in education, research and writing are increasing the likelihood that unreliable data and artificial intelligence “hallucinations” could increase public misunderstandings about the Holocaust, even inadvertent ones.
- AI programs whose understanding of the world is based on relatively narrow sources can also return incomplete or misleading responses when asked about the Holocaust.
Recommendations
- UNESCO’s report called on tech companies to establish ethical rules for the development and use of AI, to reduce the chances of unreliable information and to prevent bad actors from harnessing their programs in order to encourage violence and to spread lies about the Holocaust.
About Artificial Intelligence
- AI is the ability of a computer, or a robot controlled by a computer to do tasks that are usually done by humans because they require human intelligence and discernment.
- Although there is no AI that can perform the wide variety of tasks an ordinary human can do, some AI can match humans in specific tasks.
- The ideal characteristic of artificial intelligence is its ability to rationalize and take actions that have the best chance of achieving a specific goal.
- A subset of AI is Machine Learning (ML).
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q5. Consider the following statements with regards to a report published by UNESCO:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
|
Q. With the present state of development, Artificial Intelligence can effectively do which of the following? (2020)
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 Ans: (b) |
| Answer 5 D
Explanation
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