Current Affairs Reverse Engineering – CARE (27-06-2024)
| News at a Glance |
| Disaster Management: Why India needs to build disaster resilience in its critical infrastructure |
| Economy: Parts of new Telecom Act come into force |
| ‘Mini RATNA’ status (Category-1) for Central Electronics Limited (CEL) |
| India received $120 billion in remittances in 2023, maximum from US: World Bank |
| Environment: India and Kenya forge alliance to expand Africa’s space capabilities in response to climate crisis |
Why India needs to build disaster resilience in its critical infrastructure
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS3– Disaster Management
Context: Recent storm has resulted in disruptions in air, rail, and road transportation
Why in News
- Relentlessly high temperatures, and electricity demand is contributing to several heat-related deaths, therefore India needs to build disaster resilience in its critical infrastructure.
What is the Issue?
- The unprecedented surge in electricity demand is just a glimpse of the kind of stress that critical infrastructure faces from extreme weather events and resultant disasters.
- Power systems are not the only ones that are vulnerable. Telecommunications, transportation, health services, and even cyber systems face disruptions due to disasters, complicating an already difficult crisis situation.
- The breakdown of essential and emergency services not only hampers relief, rescue and recovery, but also amplifies the risks and sometimes adds to the devastation.
- Making critical infrastructure resilient to extreme events and disasters is, thus, a crucial component of climate change adaptation.
What is a critical Infrastructure?
- Critical infrastructure refers to the systems, facilities and assets that are vital for the functioning of society and the economy.
- These infrastructures are considered essential because their disruption would impact public safety, security and health or economic stability.
- Critical infrastructure includes both physical and virtual components that are interconnected and interdependent.
Concerns
- While early warnings and quick response have significantly reduced human casualties in disasters, economic and other losses from extreme weather events and disasters have been rising.
- This is mainly due to the increase in frequency and intensity of such events.
- Government data show that in the five years between 2018 and 2023, states together spent more than Rs 1.5 lakh crore on dealing with the aftermath of disasters and natural calamities.
- This is just the immediate expenditure. Long-term costs, in terms of livelihood losses for example, or because of a reduction in the fertility of agricultural land, are much bigger and projected to worsen over time.
- A 2022 World Bank report projected that the decline in productivity due to heat-related stress could take away around 34 million jobs in India by 2030.
- Just the food wastage, on account of transporting food items in non-air-conditioned trucks and containers, was already worth about $9 billion annually, the report said.
- The damage caused to critical infrastructure like transportation, telecommunications, and power supply by disasters and extreme weather events is often not counted in government figures, particularly when these services are privately owned.
- But this damage causes massive disruptions and makes the disaster worse.
Incorporating resilience
- Almost all the infrastructure sectors now have disaster management plans in place to prepare and respond to these events.
- For instance, hospitals in disaster-prone areas are equipping themselves with backup power supplies, airports and railways are taking steps to avoid, or quickly drain out, waterlogging, and telecommunication lines are being taken underground.
- But progress on this front has been slow and a bulk of India’s infrastructure remains extremely vulnerable to disasters.
- In the first of its kind exercise in any Indian state, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), an international organisation set up on India’s initiative, carried out a study of the electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure in Odisha, a state at high risk from cyclones.
- It found that the state’s infrastructure was extremely fragile.
- The study, which was published last week, revealed that more than 30 per cent of the distribution substations were located within 20 km of the coastline, and 80 per cent of the electricity poles were susceptible to high wind speeds.
- Also, more than 75 per cent of distribution lines were installed more than 30 years ago, and do not have the capacity to withstand cyclonic winds.
- The situation is unlikely to be very different in other coastal states.
Indian Efforts
- CDRI, as the name makes it evident, was created in 2019 with the express objective of making critical infrastructure resilient to natural disasters.
- An international body headquartered in India, CDRI is supposed to develop into a knowledge hub for implementing these transitions.
- More than 30 countries are now part of this coalition and are working with CDRI to strengthen their infrastructure.
- But only a few states in India have so far sought the expertise and collaboration of CDRI.
Significance for India
- India is still in the process of developing its infrastructure.
- Most of the infrastructure that has been proposed to stand in India by 2030 is still to be built.
- It is much easier, and cost-effective, to incorporate disaster resilience at the time of building than to retrofit these features at a later stage.
- All the upcoming infrastructure projects need to be climate smart — not just sustainable and energy efficient, but also resilient to disasters.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q1. Consider the following statements with regards to critical infrastructure:
Which of the statements given above are correct?
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Q. In India, it is legally mandatory for which of the following to report on cyber security incidents? (2017)
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Ans: (d) |
| Answer 1 – B
Explanation:
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Parts of new Telecom Act come into force: What to expect
Source: Indian Express
https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/new-telecom-act-9416787/
UPSC Relevance: GS 3- Telecommunication, Economy
Context: Changes Telecommunications Act, 2023
Why in News
- As per recent guidelines multiple sections of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 will come into effect, giving way to what is the first piece of the larger technology legislative puzzle to fall into place.
Need for Changes
- The Telecommunications Act, 2023 law has been criticised for its ambiguity on whether internet-based services fall under its ambit.
- It also attempts to bring in a slew of structural changes to current regulatory mechanisms in the sector.
- These range from simplification of the licensing regime, clarity on spectrum assignment, and a stringent requirement of user verification, among other things.
- Crucially, some of the big-ticket reforms that the Telecom Act wished to achieve, including the introduction of an authorisation regime, mandatory biometric verification of users, amendments to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, and allowing administrative allocation of spectrum for satellite communications, are yet to come into effect.
- Some of the provisions – such as suspension and interception of messages – that will come into force on Wednesday were already in force through extant laws such as the Indian Telegraph Act.
- Others related to duties of users, criminalisation of certain acts such as tampering with telecom identifiers, and creation of regulatory sandboxes are new.
Changes in Telecommunications Act, 2023
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- Sections 1, 2, 10 to 30, 42 to 44, 46, 47, 50 to 58, 61 and 62 of the Act will go into effect from Wednesday.
- These sections include the entire chapter on right of way reforms standards, public safety, national security and protection of telecommunication networks, Digital Bharat Nidhi, innovation and technology development, protection of users, offences and certain miscellaneous sections.
- Some of these provisions however, need further rules to be made completely operational.
- These rules are yet to be released by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
- Other provisions, like the suspension and interception of telecommunication services, which go into effect under the Act, have been in place under the older laws as well.
- Creating sandboxes for innovation is a new provision which will come into force. It includes building a controlled environment in which organisations can test and experiment with new technologies and ideas without the risk of failure.
- The Act envisions the creation of a live testing environment where new products, services, processes and business models may be deployed, on a limited set of users, for a specified period of time, with certain relaxations.
Big debate over allocation and auction of spectrum, and overhang of the 2012 SC ruling
- The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 has opened the door for administrative allocation of spectrum for satellite broadband services, with India set to follow the global norm in how such a spectrum is assigned to entities.
- This could be a big win for Bharti Airtel’s OneWeb, Elon Musk’s Starlink, and Amazon’s Kuiper.
- The assignment of the spectrum for satellite communications was at the heart of a debate between the government and a divided industry, with the telecom department even asking the telecom regulator TRAI for modalities around auctioning satellite spectrum.
- This also comes in the backdrop of the 2012 Supreme Court ruling in the 2G case, which held that the allocation of 2G spectrum by the Congress-led UPA government was illegal and an arbitrary exercise of power.
- The judgment went on to cancel more than a hundred telecom licences allotted to companies.
- Since the judgment, government allocation of spectrum for most commercial purposes had become a no-go area given the discretionary nature of such decisions, with it being reserved for such as a very small aperture terminal (VSAT).
- However, the satellite spectrum story is a little different. Unlike terrestrial spectrum which is used for mobile communications, by its very nature, satellite spectrum has no national territorial limits and is international in character.
- It is therefore coordinated and managed by the UN agency, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
What is the Telecommunications Bill, 2023?
- The Telecommunications Bill, 2023 amends and consolidates the laws relating to development, expansion and operation of telecommunication services and telecommunication networks; assignment of spectrum; and for matters connected therewith.
- The new Bill seeks to replace the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933, and the Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950.
- According to its statement of objectives and reasons, “Telecommunication sector is a key driver of economic and social development. It is the gateway to digital services.
- Security of our country is vitally dependent on safety of telecommunication networks.
- Therefore, there is a need to create a legal and regulatory framework that focuses on safe and secure telecommunication network that provides for digitally inclusive growth.
- The nature of telecommunication, its usage and underlying technologies have undergone massive changes, especially in the past decade.
- Therefore, there is a need for enacting a legislation for telecom sector that serves the needs of our society.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q2. Which of the following statements about the Telecommunications Bill, 2023, are correct?
A. The Bill replaces the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, and the Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933. B. The Bill includes provisions for right of way reforms, standards, public safety, and protection of telecommunication networks. C. Rules necessary for the complete operationalization of certain provisions are yet to be released by the Department of Telecommunications. D. All of the above. |
Q. In India, which of the following review the independent regulators in sectors like telecommunications, insurance, electricity, etc.? (2019)
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 3 and 4 (c) 3, 4 and 5 (d) 2 and 5 Ans: (a) |
| Answer 2– D
Explanation:
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India received $120 billion in remittances in 2023, maximum from US: World Bank
Source: Indian Express
UPSC Relevance: GS 3- World Bank, Economy
Context: Remittances received by India in 2023
Why in News
- India received USD 120 billion in remittances in 2023, which is almost twice of USD 66 billion received by Mexico during the same period, the World Bank said in a report.
Key Highlights
- China (USD 50 billion), the Philippines (USD 39 billion), and Pakistan (USD 27 billion) figure in top five countries list of remittances recipients
- The remittances in 2023 after a period of strong growth during 2021-2022, officially recorded remittance flows to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) moderated in 2023.
Remittance flows to India
- Growing at 7.5 per cent, remittance flows to India touched USD 120 billion in 2023.
- This reflects the benefits of a deceleration in inflation and strong labour markets in the United States, the largest destination for India’s skilled migrants, and other OECD destinations, as well as positive demand for skilled and less-skilled workers in the GCC countries (which, together.
- According to the World Bank, remittance flows to India from the United Arab Emirates, which account for 18 per cent and are the second largest source of India’s remittances after the United States, benefited from the February 2023 agreement.
- The latter established a framework to promote the use of local currencies for cross-border transactions and cooperation for interlinking payment and messaging systems between India and the United Arab Emirates.
- The use of dirhams and rupees in cross-border transactions is instrumental in channelling more remittances through formal channels.
- In addition to the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar account for 11 per cent of India’s total remittances.
Significance of Increased Remittances
- The diversification of India’s migrant pool between a large share of highly skilled migrants employed mostly in high-income OECD markets and the less-skilled migrants employed in the GCC markets is likely to lend stability to migrants’ remittances in the event of external shocks.
- Migration and resulting remittances are essential drivers of economic and human development.
- Many countries are interested in managed migration in the face of global demographic imbalances and labour deficits on the one hand, and high levels of unemployment and skill gaps on the other.
- The resilience of remittances underscores their importance for millions of people.
- Leveraging remittances for financial inclusion and capital market access can enhance the development prospects of recipient countries.
- The World Bank aims to reduce remittance costs and facilitate formal flows by mitigating political and commercial risks to promote private investment in this sector.
What are Remittances?
- Remittances are money transfers that migrants send to their families and friends in their home countries.
- They are an important source of income and foreign exchange for many developing countries, especially those in South Asia.
- Remittances can help reduce poverty, improve living standards, support education and health care, and stimulate economic activity.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q3. Consider the following statements with regards to remittances flow:
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
|
Q. In the context of India, which of the following factors is/are contributor/contributors to reducing the risk of a currency crisis? (2019)
Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only (c) 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3 Answer: B |
| Answer 3 B
Explanation
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India and Kenya forge alliance to expand Africa’s space capabilities in response to climate crisis
Source: Down to earth
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS3-Environement and Ecology
Context: India and Kenya forge alliance to expand Africa’s space capabilities in response to climate crisis
Why in News
- India has expressed interest in exploring areas of partnership and seeking avenues of collaboration with Kenya in developing and expanding Africa’s space capabilities for predicting and monitoring extreme weather events.
Key highlights
- Indian and Kenya are strategic partners and are keen on capacity building for geospatial information networks.
- Both countries belive in strong international partnerships and we intend to leverage this together with Kenya and other partners in Africa.
- Besides capacity building, they intend to work together to build awareness and a vibrant discourse on how the space sector can benefit African economies, especially in areas of science and technology, in response to common challenges like the ongoing climate crisis.
Significance of Kenya
- Kenya underscored the importance of the event in advancing the conversation around space technologies and their transformative impact on society.
- In the spirit of intra-Africa cooperation and as envisioned in the African Union Agenda 2063, Kenya is already actively pursuing collaboration initiatives on the peaceful uses of outer space with partner states in the region.
- These include, but are not limited to, the Republic of South Africa, Angola, Rwanda, Uganda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria and Ghana.
- Known for its cost-effective approach, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has become a leading space programme globally.
- It will enable Kenya to access accurate early warning systems for rural farmers. Integrating space technology provides unparalleled opportunities, such as enhanced data for informed decision-making, shifting from reactive approaches.
- Real-time monitoring and climate change mitigation are crucial for Kenya’s sustainable development.
Significance for India
- India is eager to partner with other countries like Kenya to help them develop indigenous space capabilities, addressing critical challenges in agriculture, food security, and environmental issues.
- The strategic importance of Kenya becoming an active player in the global space economy, projected to grow from $635 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion in 2035.
- Space technology and science will soon be key in addressing food security.
- The collaboration initiatives are targeted at developing indigenous capacity in space systems engineering and enhanced utilisation of space services, technologies and applications in socio-economic development through joint projects.
- Kenya also announced plans to establish a Centre for Earth Observation at the Luigi Broglio Malindi Space Centre on the Kenyan coast, as well as an International Training Centre for Space Education in partnership with the Italian Space Agency.
- The centres will enhance national and regional capabilities through the training and apprenticeship of the next generation of space professionals.
- The Space Expo & Conference concluded with calls for more resources to be allocated to sustainable space-related activities, including accurate monitoring and prediction of weather and climate events such as floods and droughts in East Africa and across the continent.
- Experts at the conference recommended that African governments support the private sector in developing innovations for data commercialisation across sectors. They also explored funding models and strategies to de-risk the space sector.
- Key takeaways included boosting national capability in space science, breaking entry barriers for women, and promoting STEM education.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
| Q4. India and Kenya have recently announced strategic collaboration in the field of space technology primarily aimed at:
A. Enhancing global competitiveness in satellite manufacturing. B. Developing indigenous space capabilities for monitoring extreme weather events. C. Exploring space tourism initiatives in Africa. D. Establishing a joint space mission to Mars. |
Q. Consider the following statements (2022)
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 (d) 3 only Answer: (c) |
| Answer 4 B
Explanation
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‘Mini RATNA’ status (Category-1) for Central Electronics Limited (CEL) granted
Source: PIB
https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2028866
UPSC Syllabus Relevance: GS 3- Central PSUs, Economy
Context: The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) on May 25 notified the cost inflation index for the current financial year (2024-25).
Why in news
- Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh announced the grant of “Mini RATNA” status (Category-1) for Central Electronics Limited (CEL)
Key Highlights
- Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions congratulated CEL on completion of 50 glorious years in the service of the nation and now celebrating their Golden Jubilee on 26th June this year.
- Dr. Jitendra Singh, while highlighting CEL’s performance, mentioned that over last few years, especially in the last 5 years, CEL’s financial stability, profitability, and operational excellence have touched new heights.
- CEL’s performance in terms of the numbers in turnover, net worth, reserves, net profit, etc. are also remarkable.
- The Minister shared that CEL has transformed from a loss-making PSU to a dividend paying PSU and this is the 3rd consecutive year that CEL has paid dividends, that too at increasing rate, to the Government of India. He also highlighted that Celebrating 50 years with attaining Net profit of approx. Rs 58 crore is commendable.
What is Miniratna Company
- A Miniratna company excels in operations and maintains financial stability, crucially impacting sectors such as telecommunications, aviation, defence, and engineering.
- Companies categorised as Miniratna Category I enjoy financial autonomy for investment decisions up to ₹500 crore or an amount equivalent to their net worth, whichever is lower.
- On the other hand, Miniratna Category II companies have the flexibility of financial autonomy for investments up to ₹300 crore or up to 50% of their net worth, whichever is lower.
Criteria for Miniratna Status
- Miniratna Category-I Status: The CPSEs which have made profit in the last three years continuously, pre-tax profit is Rs.30 crores or more in at least one of the three years and have a positive net worth are eligible to be considered for grant of Miniratna-I status.
- Miniratna Category-II Status: The CPSEs which have made profit for the last three years continuously and have a positive net worth are eligible to be considered for grant of Miniratna-II status.
- Miniratna CPSEs should have not defaulted in the repayment of loans/interest payment on any loans due to the Government.
- Miniratna CPSEs shall not depend upon budgetary support or Government guarantees.
Central Electronics Limited (CEL)
- Central Electronics Limited is a Govt. of India Enterprise under the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), Ministry of Science & Technology.
- It was established in 1974, with an objective to commercially exploit indigenous technologies developed by National Laboratories and R&D Institutions in the country.
- CEL has developed a number of products for the first time in the country through its own R&D efforts and in close association with the premier National & International Laboratories including Defense Laboratories.
- In recognition of all these efforts, CEL has been awarded a number of times with prestigious awards including “National Award for R&D by DSIR”.
- CEL is pioneer in the country in the field of Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) and it has developed the technology with its own R&D efforts.
- CEL has also developed axle counter systems that are being used in Railway signaling system for safe running of trains.
- These products have been designed and developed in accordance with CENELEC standards.
- CEL has developed a number of critical components for strategic applications and is supplying these items to Defence.
| CARE MCQ | UPSC PYQ |
Q5. Which of the following criteria are necessary for a Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) to be eligible for grant of Mini RATNA Category-I status?
Which of the following statements are correct about CBDT?
|
Q. What does venture capital mean? (2014)
(a) A short-term capital provided to industries (b) A long-term start-up capital provided to new entrepreneurs (c) Funds provided to industries at times of incurring losses (d) Funds provided for replacement and renovation of industries Ans: (b) |
| Answer 5 A
Explanation
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