UPSC Daily Current Affairs- 28th May 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly PDF Download

GS-I

All-in-one policy plan to spread insurance in India

Why in News?

Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) is devising a new affordable bundled product to give citizens protection against multiple risks.

More about the news

• About:
  • IRDA is devising an affordable product covering health, life, property, accident risks to give citizens protection, and seeking to expedite claim settlements by linking death registries onto a common industry platform.

• State-level insurance committees:
  • To meet the target of providing insurance cover for all by 2047, the IRDA is also looking to form State-level insurance committees similar to the ones prevalent in the banking sector, and rope in State governments to formulate district-level plans.
• Amending the insurance laws: 
  • Separately, the IRDA has proposed amendments to the insurance laws that the government may take up soon, which will allow differentiated capital requirements for niche insurers so as to attract more investments, and permit players to add value-added services to the policies they sell.

Bima Trinity

• Considering “huge protection gaps” that exist “even today in almost all the lines of the insurance, be it life, health, motor, property or crops, IRDA is planning to create an “UPI-like moment” in insurance through a plan worked out with general and life insurance firms that is termed as “Bima Trinity”.
• The trinity includes following:
  • Bima Sugam platform:
    • Bima Sugam platform will integrate insurers and distributors on to one platform to make it a one-stop shop for customers, who at a later stage can pursue service requests and settlement of claims through the same portal.
  • Bima Vistar:
    • IRDA is simultaneously developing a possible lynchpin product Bima Vistar that will be a bundled risk cover for life, health, property and casualties or accidents, with defined benefits for each risk that can be paid out faster than usual without the need for surveyors.
  • Bima Vaahaks:
    • The third part of the trinity envisaged by the IRDA entails a women-centric workforce of Bima Vaahaks (carriers) in each Gram Sabha that will meet the women heads of each household to convince them that a composite insurance product like Bima Vistar can “come in handy if there is any distress”.

Significance:

• If India’s insurance regulator’s plans fructify, households across the country could soon be able to get 
  • An affordable single policy that covers health, life, property and accident, 
  • Get their claims settled within hours, and 
  • Even secure value-added services such as gym or yoga memberships at the time of buying a policy.
• Part of a broader overhaul:
  • These initiatives are part of a broader overhaul, including legislative amendments to attract more investments through differentiated licences for niche players similar to the banking sector, with an eye on making insurance “available, affordable and accessible” to citizens with a ‘Gram Sabha- to district- to State-level’ approach. 
• Empoyment:
  • The regulator believes these changes could double the number of jobs in the sector to 1.2 crore.
• Faster claim settlements:
  • With many States digitising their birth and death registries, the IRDA platform, if integrated with those registries, could help settle claims as fast as six to eight hours or a day at the most.
• Amendments to the insurance laws:
  • The amendments will also enable the entry of new players in the form of micro, regional, small, captive players, specialised players, and even composite licenses. 

Source: TH 

GS-II

Why in News?

PM Modi chaired the eighth Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. The meeting was conducted at the new Convention Centre in Pragati Maidan, Delhi.

• The theme for this meeting was ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Role of Team India’.

National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog:

• About:
  • NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on 1 January 2015. It was constituted to replace the Planning Commission - instituted in 1950.
  • It is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, providing directional and policy inputs.
  • NITI Aayog acts as a platform to bring the States to act together in national interest and thereby fosters cooperative federalism.
• Composition
  • Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India
  • Full time organisational framework:
    • Vice Chairperson: Appointed by the PM, s/he enjoys the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
    • Full-Time Members: Enjoys the rank of a Minister of State.
    • Part-Time Members: Maximum 2.
    • Ex-Officio Members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Minister to be nominated by the PM.
  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Appointed by the PM for a fixed tenure, s/he enjoys the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
  • Special Invitees: These will be experts with relevant domain knowledge to be nominated by the PM.
• Governing Council of NITI Aayog:
  • The council is the premier body tasked with evolving a shared vision of national priorities and strategies, with the active involvement of States.
  • It presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues to accelerate the implementation of the national development agenda.
  • Composition of Governing Council:
    • It is chaired by the PM and comprises Chief Ministers of all the States and UTs with legislatures and Lt Governors of other Union Territories.
    • The council also comprises of Vice Chairman
  • Before 2023, seven meetings of the Governing Council had been held (7^th meeting was held in August, 2022).

Performance of NITI:

• As an action Tank: By collecting fresh and new ideas and sharing them with the government at the Central and State level, it ensures that there is no inactivity in any organisation or institution.
• Improving innovation: A commendable work has been done by the Atal Innovation Mission (established under NITI Aayog), which has helped in improving the innovation ecosystem in India.
• Bringing greater responsibility in the system: Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) has been established by the NITI Aayog, which collects performance data of various Ministries on a real-time basis.
  • These data are then used at the highest policy-making levels to improve performance and establish accountability.
• Some important initiatives of NITI Aayog: Some of the initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, water conservation measures, approach towards artificial intelligence, have been conceptualised in NITI Aayog and respective Ministries are taking them forward.

NITI Aayog: Promoting Federalism

• Cooperative Federalism
  • NITI Aayog has provided a platform for direct issue-based interaction between States and Central Ministries thereby helping quick resolution of outstanding issues.
  • The NITI Forum for North East has been constituted and tangible sectoral proposals are being implemented by the States in partnership with the North East council.
  • NITI Aayog has designed some major initiatives for island development which are being implemented under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • It is also envisaged that like the NITI Forum for the North East, other regional councils of contiguous States could be formed.
    • The first step has been taken by forming the Himalayan States Regional Council and forming a coalition of all thirteen central universities in these states.
• Competitive Federalism
  • It promotes competitive federalism principally through pushing its sectoral indices which are put out in the public domain.
    • The indices on water, education, health, innovation, export preparedness, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have attracted significant positive attention.
  • It has also introduced a competition element in ‘Aspirational Districts Program’ by focusing on governance improvement on the ground.
    • These districts have shown significant improvement in indicators pertaining to health and nutrition, education etc.
  • Besides, several best practices in governance have emerged from these districts which are now being scaled up and replicated at the block level in some states.

News Summary: NITI Aayog’s eighth Governing Council meet

Key highlights of the speech delivered by PM Modi

• To achieve the goal of Vikasit Bharat by 2047
  • PM Modi asked the states and districts to develop a long-term vision to make India a developed country by 2047.
  • In this context, he said it was essential to combine the vision of states and districts with the national vision to reach the goal of Vikasit Bharat by 2047.
• Urged the states to take financially prudent decisions
  • This would make them fiscally strong and capable of undertaking programmes for the welfare of citizens.
• Urged the States to proactively use the Gati Shakti Portal
  • He urged the States to proactively use the Gati Shakti Portal not only for infrastructure and logistics but also for local area development and creation of social infrastructure.
    • PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi-modal Connectivity, is essentially a digital platform to bring 16 Ministries together for integrated planning and coordinated implementation of infrastructure connectivity projects.

Source: TH

What is a narco test, how does it work?

Why in News?

Protesting wrestlers at Jantar Mantar recently said they were willing to undergo a narco analysis test, provided it was monitored by the Supreme Court.

• The remark was made in response to Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) president comment that he was ready to undergo the narco test on the condition that wrestlers take one too.

What is a Narco Test?

• In a ‘narco’ or narco analysis test, a drug called sodium pentothal is injected into the body of the accused, which transports them to a hypnotic or sedated state in which their imagination is neutralised.
  • Sodium pentothal/sodium thiopental is a fast-acting, short-duration anaesthetic used in larger doses to sedate patients during surgery.
  • It belongs to the barbiturate class of drugs that act on the central nervous system as depressants.
  • Because the drug is believed to weaken the subject’s resolve to lie, it is sometimes referred to as a “truth serum”, used by intelligence operatives first during World War II.
• In this hypnotic state, the accused is understood as being incapable of lying and is expected to give information that is true.

Narco Tests vs Polygraph Tests:

• Polygraph tests, although having the same truth-decoding motive, work differently.
• A polygraph test is carried out on the assumption that physiological responses triggered when one is lying are different from what they otherwise would be.
• Rather than injecting drugs into the body, polygraph tests attach instruments like cardio-cuffs or sensitive electrodes to the suspect (while being questioned) and measure variables such as blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration, etc.

SC’s Guidelines in Selvi vs State of Karnataka (2010):

• Taking into consideration the international norms on human rights, the right to a fair trial, and the right against self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution, the court said that -
  • A forcible intrusion into a person’s mental processes is an affront to human dignity and liberty.
• Therefore, the guidelines for the administration of polygraph tests published by the NHRC in 2000, must be strictly followed.
• Such tests cannot be administered without the subject’s consent, which must be obtained before a Magistrate.
• Those who volunteer must have access to a lawyer and have the physical, emotional, and legal implications of the test explained to them by the police and the lawyer.

What is the Evidentiary Value of Such Tests?

• The results of narco-analysis tests are not considered “confessions” since those in a drugged-induced state cannot exercise their choice in answering questions put to them.
• However, the SC clarified that any information or material that is subsequently discovered with the help of voluntary administered test results can be admitted, in accordance with the Evidence Act, 1872.
• Thus, if an accused reveals a physical piece of evidence (like a murder weapon) and the police later find that evidence, the statement of the accused will not be treated as evidence, but the physical evidence will be valid.

Legal Position before the SC Ruling:

• In 2006, the Madras HC observed that since the accused did not come forward with the truth, the scientific tests resorted to by the investigating agency did not “amount to testimonial compulsion”.
• In 2008, the Delhi HC said that narco-analysis tests “do not suffer from any constitutional infirmity” and are a “step in aid of investigation”.

Source: TH

GS-III

Why in News?

Microsoft has uncovered stealthy and targeted malicious activity focused on post-compromise credential access and network system discovery aimed at critical infrastructure organizations in the United States.

About Volt Typhoon

• The attack is carried out by Volt Typhoon, a state-sponsored actor based in China that typically focuses on espionage and information gathering. 
• The Volt Typhoon campaign is pursuing development of capabilities that could disrupt critical communications infrastructure between the United States and Asia region during future crises.
  • In this campaign, the affected organizations span the communications, manufacturing, utility, transportation, construction, maritime, government, information technology, and education sectors. 
• Volt Typhoon has been active since mid-2021 and has targeted critical infrastructure organizations in Guam and elsewhere in the United States. 
• Observed behavior suggests that the threat actor intends to perform espionage and maintain access without being detected for as long as possible.

Espionage

• Nearly every country in the world uses hackers to gather intelligence. Major powers like the United States and Russia have large stables of such groups – many of which have been given nicknames by cybersecurity experts, like “Equation Group” or “Fancy Bear.”
• Nearly all cyber spies work to cover their tracks. Volt Typhoon was a particularly quiet operator that hid its traffic by routing it through hacked network equipment – like home routers – and carefully expunged evidence of intrusions from victim’s logs.
• China routinely denies hacking and has done so again in the case of Volt Typhoon. But documentation of Beijing’s cyberespionage campaigns have been building for more than two decades. 

Source: IE

Vande Bharat Express

Why in News?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently flagged off the inaugural run of Vande Bharat Express from Dehradun to Delhi. It is the 17th Vande Bharat Express train to the nation.

About:

• Vande Bharat Express, earlier named as Train 18, is India's fastest indigenous train which has been built by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai under the Government’s Make in India.
• Timeline: It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi between New Delhi and Varanasi on February 15, 2019 and is running with no reported issues in the last six months.
• It is India's first semi-high-speed train which will run from Delhi to Varanasi, with halts at Kanpur and Allahabad, at a maximum speed of 160 kmph by covering the distance in 8 hours.
• It is equipped with world class passenger amenities like On-board wifi entertainment, GPS based passenger information system, CCTVs, bio-vacuum toilets, rotating chairs in executive class, etc.
• The express will have two travel classes: executive and chair car, similar to the Shatabdi.
• Further, it has intelligent braking system with power regeneration for better energy efficiency thereby making it cost, energy and environment efficient.
• It is also the first locomotive-less train in the country.

Source: AIR

Why in News?

The Indian Navy and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) have released the Gaganyaan Recovery Training Plan at INS Garuda in Kochi.

About

• The document outlines the training plan for recovery of the crew module of the Gaganyaan mission.
• The document defines overall requirements with respect to training of various teams participating in recovery operations including divers, MARCOs (marine commandos), medical specialists, communicators, technicians and naval aviators.
• The recovery training is planned in incremental phases starting from unmanned recovery to manned recovery training in harbour and open sea conditions.

Gaganyaan Mission

• About: The Gaganyaan mission aims to demonstrate the capability to launch human beings (three crew members) to low earth orbit and bring them back safely to earth by landing them in either the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea.
  • Low-Earth orbit (often known as LEO) encompasses Earth-centered orbits with an altitude of 2,000 km or less. 
• Objective: To demonstrate indigenous capability to undertake human space flight mission to LEO.
• Launch Vehicles: The Launch Vehicle Mark-3 (LVM3) is the launch vehicle for the Gaganyaan mission.
  • All systems in the LVM3 launch vehicle are reconfigured to meet human rating requirements and named Human Rated LVM3 (HLVM3).

Advantages of Gaganyaan Mission

• It has both tangible and intangible benefits for the nation, which includes:
  • Progress towards a sustained and affordable human and robotic programme to explore the solar system and beyond.
  • Advanced technology capability for undertaking human space exploration, sample return missions and scientific exploration.
  • Future capability to actively collaborate in global space station development & to carry out scientific experiments of interest to the nation.
  • The programme will strengthen international partnerships and global security through the sharing of challenging and peaceful goals. 
  • Ample scope for employment generation and human resource development in advanced science and R&D activities.

Source: TH